Reluctant Empire Buildres? Not So Much So... An Athenian View On The Necessity Of Empire
...Athens need an empire? That depends on who you ask. In the first book of Thucydides' The Peloponnesian War, the Athenian point of view concerning relations with other Greek cities and city-states is related twice. The first time is in 432 B.C.E., when three Athenian representatives speak up during a conference at Sparta after arguments against Athens have been heard from the Corinthians and Spartans. The Athenians are not diplomats or official representatives, but happen to be present during the debate concerning the problems of the Athenian empire, and they ask to speak in defense of their native city. The second discussion comes when Thucydides describes the details of how the Athenian empire grew in the aftermath of the Persian War, fighting on land and sea to gain new territories. In this essay, the two versions of events will be compared for their insights into the Athenian identity, and in particular at the pride that Athenians felt in their military ability and democratic system of government.
The Athenian representatives begin by declaring that they are reasonable men who interrupt the debate in the interest of peace and reason. Speaking as one, the Athenians say there is no reason to speak to disagreements and problems in the past, but they must be allowed to speak about their city's proud role in the Persian War. With this opening, they launch immediately into a description of the glorious part Athens played in that conflict, which save all the people of Greece from the invading Persian forces. Their speech reads like a short list of the most important contributions to the victory:
This is our record. At Marathon we stood out against the Persians and faced them single-handed. In the later invasion, when we were unable to meet the enemy on land, we and all our people took to the ships, and joined in the battle at Salamis. It was this battle...
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