ANHS1600 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Second Athenian Empire, Hegemony, Diadem
15 May 2018
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Lecture – Hellenistic city state
10/05/16
- Kings or leagues are not an alternative to the city states
- Kings who have to negotiate their power city by city.
Topic: Kings and cities whilst looking at inscriptions.
- For the Hellenistic period we don’t have a unified narrative source (like Herodotus, Xenephon,
Thucydides) but there is a lot more papyri and inscriptions than before.
- This is a history of communication in relation to politics – looking at how the cities are
communicating with the kings.
What is an inscription:
- A piece of marble where in it is inscribed a text. Inscriptions are documentary evidence yet they
also show what the pieces of texts are doing as an act of commemorating. It identifies the function
of a monument or object.
- The decree of the ‘Second Athenian League’ states what they have decided as an inscription. This
inscription is a commemoration of a past decision with the future in mind – it doesn’t just state facts,
it’s trying to make fact. This inscription is also a monument (famed by association). Other steles that
go against what is said on this will be destroyed – highlighting that the monuments are actively
engaging with their historical reality. No inscription is guaranteed a life time – they can be destroyed
at any moment.
- The successors of Alexander (his generals) can now become king – but this is a dangerous job and
requires being careful. The problem is that these generals now want more power than there ever
was – yet there are leagues in state too. How they will keep power is the question.
- Ptolemy – king of Egypt (dynasty). Antigonits (Greece/ Macedon) king. Succats.
Question: How do you make it to the status of the king.
How do you talk to a city?
- Phillip 2nd understood how Greeks worked – leagues. Greeks now know this was a bad idea with
having the king as the hegemon.
- There are cities that become biotopes for the king. In between those decrees the King has to
navigate his ways.
No king actually OWNS the cities.
Antigonus understands that certain Greeks are suffering from other “wannabe” kings → Deals with
this through the supra polis level. He fixes this problem, and then once that is recognised he expects
something in return. I.e. OGIS 5,6 (Readings) → Shows this. A king writes letters and the cities write
decrees. Shows two different modes of communication – a King cannot issue a decree. King shows
monarchy decision making whilst the city shows the democratic decision making.
These two letters and decree discuss power distribution. Communication is never ending – A gives
something to B, B returns and this is continuous.
Kings write letters and negotiate with cities. If they decide to play along, and they agree – this can be
further inscribed. Between letters and decrees we find somewhat of a contract. It is a way for these
cities to navigate these power players. Both situations depend on one another.
After Alexander the world is divided in 3 major kingdoms.
Document Summary
Kings or leagues are not an alternative to the city states. Kings who have to negotiate their power city by city. Topic: kings and cities whilst looking at inscriptions. For the hellenistic period we don"t have a unified narrative source (like herodotus, xenephon, Thucydides) but there is a lot more papyri and inscriptions than before. This is a history of communication in relation to politics looking at how the cities are communicating with the kings. A piece of marble where in it is inscribed a text. Inscriptions are documentary evidence yet they also show what the pieces of texts are doing as an act of commemorating. It identifies the function of a monument or object. The decree of the second athenian league" states what they have decided as an inscription. This inscription is a commemoration of a past decision with the future in mind it doesn"t just state facts, it"s trying to make fact.
