Greek Unity
Evaluate Greek Unity as the main reason for Greek Victory against the Persians in the years 490BC-479BC.
There is much discussion over whether it was Greek unity that caused the victory against the Persians in the years 490BC-479BC. The three main points of view on the matter is that they were not united at all, which can be seen from the accounts of Herodotus, that they were united, which can be seen in the Themistocles Decree and that it was Themistocles himself that made them unified. It is on the research of Herodotus that we rely most heavily on for our information of the Persian War period. He is often criticised for his inaccuracy, bias and failure to evaluate events properly. Unfortunately there is no other major ancient source against which scholars can check his facts. Plutarch writes about him with “blasphemy and slander lie beneath his smooth, delicate surface and we must beware of unconsciously accepting his false and absurd ideas about the greats noblest cities and men of Greece.” He is generally reliable when it comes to the principal events, even though he is prone to exaggerate the size of the Persian armies brought against Greece. He is not, however, as useful when it comes to analysis, particularly his judgements about causes for events or tactics in battles. He openly declares his admiration for Athens and his accounts are largely written from the Athenian point of view. However, it must be remembered that he received his information at a time when Athens and Sparta were hostile to one another, after 464. This could be a contributing factor as to why he writes as if there wasn’t unity between the Greeks. Herodotus dismisses the idea that the Greeks were ever unified. In his writings he gives endless examples of how the Greeks fought with each other constantly. He describes bribery, treachery and blackmail amongst the Greek camps. One of these descriptions is that of Ephilates who showed the Persians the secret pass to the Spartans in
There is much discussion over whether it was Greek unity that caused the victory against the Persians in the years 490BC-479BC. The three main points of view on the matter is that they were not united at all, which can be seen from the accounts of Herodotus, that they were united, which can be seen in the Themistocles Decree and that it was Themistocles himself that made them unified. It is on the research of Herodotus that we rely most heavily on for our information of the Persian War period. He is often criticised for his inaccuracy, bias and failure to evaluate events properly. Unfortunately there is no other major ancient source against which scholars can check his facts. Plutarch writes about him with “blasphemy and slander lie beneath his smooth, delicate surface and we must beware of unconsciously accepting his false and absurd ideas about the greats noblest cities and men of Greece.” He is generally reliable when it comes to the principal events, even though he is prone to exaggerate the size of the Persian armies brought against Greece. He is not, however, as useful when it comes to analysis, particularly his judgements about causes for events or tactics in battles. He openly declares his admiration for Athens and his accounts are largely written from the Athenian point of view. However, it must be remembered that he received his information at a time when Athens and Sparta were hostile to one another, after 464. This could be a contributing factor as to why he writes as if there wasn’t unity between the Greeks. Herodotus dismisses the idea that the Greeks were ever unified. In his writings he gives endless examples of how the Greeks fought with each other constantly. He describes bribery, treachery and blackmail amongst the Greek camps. One of these descriptions is that of Ephilates who showed the Persians the secret pass to the Spartans in
Bibliography: Ancient Greece by Pamela Bradley Studies in Ancient Greece by Dianne Hennessy Plutarch’s Life of Themistocles www.bostonleadershipbuilders.com/plutarch/themistocles.htm