CLA160H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Euripides, Isocrates, Military Revolution
Document Summary
Week 4: athens, sparta, and the peloponnesian wars. Changes to athenian constitution were being made: result of the increasing importance of naval operation and the rovers of the fleet. 462-461 bc series of laws eliminating last vestiges of the aristocratic constitution were passed. Areopagus jurisdiction restricted to only trying cases of religious significance. Cimon (most powerful individual in athens) was assisting sparta with most recent helot revolt: spartans feared that the revolutionary spirit of athens would affect the spartan citizens, so they sent cimon and troops home. Athens formed an alliance with sparta s enemies (argos and thessaly) Cimon was ostracized in 461 athenians commit to anti-spartan policy. Pericles was left in charge of the policy and democracy at large. Megara left spartan alliance and joined athens, giving athenian alliance great geographical advantage. Spartan army operating in boeotia encountered athenians coming home: suffered great losses and were forced to withdraw, athenians took control of boeotia region.
