This essay provides recounts on the impact the Peloponnesian war had on Athenian democracy and draws on the work of Plato and Thucydides. It discusses the Oligarchy, Pericles, the Melian war and how Athens returned to a democratic state
How did the war change the nature of Athenian democracy? Answer by drawing on the
writings of both Plato and Thucydides
The Athenian form of democracy was formed in 508 BC and Thucydides’ book ‘The History
of the Peloponnesian War’ recounted one of the most significant wars. The Peloponessian
wars and all the wars within this frame, including the rise and fall of Pericles along with his
replacement Cleon and their different types of leadership made an impact on Athenian
democracy. Plato’s ‘Menexenus’ makes remarks on Pericles funeral oration which dismisses
Thucydides and mocks Pericles and their democracy. The mytilene war and the Sicilian
expedition both are monumental moments that see the destruction of the Athenian democracy
and the oligarchic influences and changes to the Athenian constitution.
To understand how the war changed the nature of Athenian democracy, it is important to first
recognise and understand what Athenian democracy was and why it was so revolutionary for
this form of government to exist during the 5th Century. Their form of direct democracy saw
‘juries sat in panels that usually ranged from 200 to 500 in size; and final legislative authority
lay in a body consisting of the entire citizen population, rather than a representative body’
(Rothchild, 2007 p.13). With Athens being one of the strongest empires amongst the other
Greek empires, it was not uncommon for Athens to be at war quite frequently. In Book One,
Thucydides discusses this much more with Corinthians even saying "It is in [Athens’] nature
to have no quiet themselves and to deny quiet to others." (Thucydides, 2009 Book 1 Ch.3).
This represents that Athens was never still and constantly ambitious and looking for power.
The Peloponnesian war, however, had the biggest impact on Athenian democracy and saw the
flaws of their democracy arise. There were two main causes of the war, the first was the
, events that were the catalysts in the lead-up to the war. For example Athens’ defence of
Corcyra against Corinth and their decree against Megara. The second cause of the war was
the fact that Athens was a democracy and Sparta was an Oligarchy. These two varying forms
of governing were major points of tension as Athens and Sparta were the most powerful and
influential empires at the time.
Pericles was a very famous statesman and was elected three times with Thucydides even
describing him as ‘a man of the greatest ability both words and in action’ (Thucydides, 2009
Book 1 Ch.4) . The ‘Age of Pericles’ was associated with wealth and the golden age and
delivered the renowned funeral oration. In his funeral oration, Pericles praises Athens and its
current generation while also commemorating the fallen soldiers. Thucydides recalls the
oration in Book Two when Pericles says ‘In summary… I declare that our city as a whole is
an education to Greece’ (Thucydides, 2009 Book 2 Ch.6) which shows that beauty and
intelligence were considered essential to our human nature. This speech is distinct and still so
renowned in literature. As a rhetoric, Pericles had to find a balance in motivating the citizens
and soldiers while also being respectful to those that had died in battle. On the other hand,
Plato ridicules Pericles and Thucydides, he makes a larger point about orations and Athenian
democracy. In Plato’s Menexenus, he mocks orators and insinuates that Athenian democracy
is ruled by those most influential. Plato says to Menexenus that persuading and being an
Orator to those that already praise you is easy ‘But when one performs before the very people
he is praising, it is perhaps no great thing to appear to speak well’ (Plato and Allen, 1984
p.330). Plato’s criticism of Orators extends to Athenian democracy as he says ‘One man calls
it democracy, another what he pleases.’ (Plato and Allen, 1984 p.333). This shows that
Athenian democracy became internally flawed as it was run by the people, and assemblies
were essentially open to most men, however, each mans definition of ‘democracy’ varied and
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