CLASSICS 1M03 Lecture 8: Classics 1M03 - Lecture 8 - Pentekontaetia
28 Jul 2018
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Document Summary
It was salamis, a naval victory, that had proved decisive in the second persian war. Greek naval power had been dependent on the athenians. Here again a military outcome ultimately depended on socio-political conditions. The leading athenian politician of period was a man called themistocles. His eminence was based on his insight into athens and naval power. In 482 the athenians struck a very rich seam of silver in their state mines at a place called laureion. It was suggested that the state just pay out the profits to the citizens, giving each a windfall payment. Themistocles, however, persuaded the people that it would be in the public interest to use the money instead to build a navy. Themistocles" great insight was that athens" emergent democracy unleashed new energies that could be put military use. Athenians, including the landless thetes, below the hoplite census, could be drawn on for a new form of citizen military service.
