Pericles Funeral Oration (for those who died fighting Sparta in the first year 431 BC) First

t he praises the fathers and ancestors of Athens for they enlarged the ancestral patrimony by the Empire, that is, Athens is rich thanks to the Empire. He then says the Empire, in his own time, has secured complete Athenian independence. Democracy secures equal justice in private disputes and honors achievement on the grounds of excellence alone. o Democracy breeds an open, friendly society. Athens is an open citywealth and people from throughout the Greek world flow in and out. o But wealth is not just for show, it is an opportunity for achievement; furthermore, attempts should be made to alleviate poverty Citizens of Athens get much involved in public, civic life. Athenians are adventurous in action, but reflective beforehand. Athens is firmly attached to its allies, and the city as a whole is an education to Greece o Athenian supremacy is because of its citizens and institutionsand since Athens is so unique, successful and important there is a lot at stake. It must be protected. Justification for the empire and the war. Honor the dead and most importantly continue the fight because the great city life of Athens rests upon the fighters daring and duty. o In return for death, the warriors receive praise that will never die o For you now it remains to rival what they have done and, knowing the secret of happiness to be freedom and the secret of freedom a brave heart, not idly to stand aside from the enemys onset.

The Peloponnesian War The Peloponnesian War, at its core, was a conflict of competing Greek ideologies: democracy and aristocratic oligarchy. o Athens and its Empire represented the democratic bloceven though Athens held its domain under tight control and forced its subordinates to offer tribute, it maintained democracy in the poleis across the Empire o The Spartan led Peloponnesian league represented the oligarchic blocthe Spartans were concerned that democracy would spread to Spartas neighbors, inciting the helots to revolt; the Athenian efforts to unify and centralize the Greek world by the Empire, thus spreading democracy throughout Greece was threatening to Sparta. The Athenians acted like Mafiosi, demanding protection money from its territories. If they refused, or revolted, the Athenian considered them aggressors and dealt out severe

military punishment (why should they revolt if they were not oppressed? Clearly they are not rebels but aggressors!). The Athenian held the confederation together by force. o From the Athenian perspective, they were protecting Greece from the threat of Persian invasion, as well as keeping peace and prosperity throughout the Greek world Within each polis, especially Athens, there were broadly two political factions: the democrats [with roots in the hoplite farmers] and the (aristocratic) supports of oligarchy. The former were pro-Athens/Empire and the latter were pro-Sparta. In facts, the democrats in Athens were the most vocal supporter of an Empire and a tight grip. o For example, Cleon, the militaristic demagogue of Athenian politics well known for his avocation of slaughtering the population of rebellious Mytilene in Thucydides, was a staunch opponent of Pericles; not because he was prooligarchy (although he was an aristocrat), but because he was radically prodemocracy and he thought that if Mytilene was spared, other Athenian subjects would secede. He considered the Athenian empire necessary for the protection and extension of democracy, and believed military action against Sparta and Spartan inspired rebellions was the only rational course. o After the 30 tyrants in Athens, Socrates was put on trial and executed primarily for his suspected oligarchic sentiments and association with leaders in the 30 tyrants regimecorrupting the youth and impiety were trumped-up charges.