United Nations Memorandum on the Future of Greece

Findings from the following report have are based on a case study of the rise and collapse of the Greek city-states of the classical period

Report composed by 5th period February 7, 2014

Dear United Nations,

Today, Greece is on the verge of financial ruin due to the government taking advantage of the economy. By borrowing money, spending it on projects such as the Olympics in 2004, they have put themselves in debt. Ancient Greece collapsed centuries ago, but nations present fear modern day Greece might collapse too. With all the violence and protests going on in the streets of Athens, there's fear of a civil war. The E.U gave Greece Austerity which The people of Athens despise. We will be looking back at what caused Ancient Greece to collapse, so modern-day Greece does not repeat the same tragic mistakes.

Geographic Influence on the Rise from a Dark Age

Geography played a big role in helping Greece climb out of the dark age from the 6th century to the 9th century B.C. Geography caused a lot of trading throughout the villages and brought a variety of people to trade, not only that but over some time it brought an immense amount of people to live in the mountain and other surrounding environments . For example, according to document 1.2 Phoenician sailors traded along the coast for centuries and they have brought many new things here like knowledge of technical advances of travel. The Phoenicians also engaged in cultural diffusion with the Greek city-states. For example, according to document 1.2, a network of city-states, new dialects, religious practices were developed in Athens and Sparta. Due to the benefits of cultural diffusion, Athens, Sparta, and other city-states made cultural advances to have their own festivals

including the famously known Olympic games. Geography brought cultural diffusion to Athens and Sparta, which helped Greece rise out of the Dark age.

Economy and Culture of Greek City-States In many city -states, reported clashes occurred between rules and the common people. A city-state is a city and its surrounding lands functioning as an independent political unit. The ruling class owned their position to control the land. Slavery has become a major source of the surplus food. Due to it being highly used ...the cost of a slave in 5th BC was half the wage paid to a free artisan for a years work.(Document 1.4) Proving that slavery of war captives was preferable and more economically advantageous than paying free artisans. Slaves were used for many different tasks; they were a part of the Athenian civilization. The Athenians believed that slaves were property whose job was to grow surplus of food so the citizens could use their time wisely to talk about politics, philosophy, art, and literature. Although Athenian slaves had no rights, they were not treated as harshly as the slaves in other city-states. Slaves in Athens were seen to be important to the Athenian civilization, unlike the Spartan helots who were treated harshly. Usually the helots are oppressed in the economy because they do not get the honor to be a citizen but they are sometimes seen as slave, not being able to get the true rights. Helots were treated so poorly, since they were not quite a slave or a free person, but instead a serf. Spartans often come to the countryside to kill helots to reinforce their station in Spartan society. Proving how strongly the economy means towards the helots, because they were not able to get what they truly believe that they needed. The different oppressive economies in Athens and Sparta influenced the respective cultures. Athens used slaves for a surplus because the Athenians were business-minded,

while Spartans used the helots labor to focus on military training which they deemed paramount to Spartan society. Centripetal Forces

The centripetal forces that existed throughout the Greek city-states are the Persian War and the beliefs of Greek Gods because it formed a united society. The Persian war was fought between the Delian League and other Greek city-states such as Sparta against Persia. During the war, there was a conversation between King Xerxes of Persia and Demaratus, a former king of Sparta. During the argument Xerxes stated, Will the Greeks really fight against us? I think that even if all the Greeks and all barbarians of the West were gathered all in one place, they will not be able to stop me, since they are so disunited. This quote shows that Xerxes was overly confident with his people in winning the war against the Greeks. He believed that he had more power and a better army against them. He had it in his head that he was unstoppable and the Greeks would not be a burden, more of an easy target that gets eliminated. The Greeks had a very little army so Xerxes never looked at them as a threat. The people in Greek city-states were polytheistic, in other words it was beliefs of Greek Gods supported the centripetal forces by making the Greeks believe in the same gods, which caused them to come together, and to also relate to each other that they are not at all different from what the believe in. During this time, mythology was more of a religion to the Greeks. The fables and tales that we call them today were actually stories that the Greeks worshiped and believed in. Many Greeks were influenced by works of art. Long ago, at around 8 A.D., myth was formed about Narcissus, the son of the river gods. He became so in love with himself that he died looking at his reflection. The artist Caravaggio portrayed this through a painting in 15971599. In the myth, it was told that, ...The seer, told his

parents that the child would live to an old age if it did not look at himself Many nymphs fell in love with him but he rejected them. Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection and let himself die. The quote states how being consisted can ruin ones life. The Greeks believed that this would happen to them so they never became a man or woman like Narcissus. With this said, the Greeks all thought differently of one another, but in the end they all had the same beliefs which tied them all together. Another interesting belief that the Greeks had believed in was found in the passage, The Birth of Venus: ...Her priestess were not prostitutes but woman who represented the goddess and sexual intercourse with them was considered just one of the methods of worship. This quote states the birth of an abstract concept- love. These myths were created to give the Greeks a better understanding of how many things, abstract or natural, were created at that time. The Greeks had believed in this, just as much as they had believed in any of these stories that were made by their god. The myths are just made up stories to us but back then, it meant way more to the Greeks than it does to us. It kept their society together, even through the toughest of times. They would put their problems aside and make their heart pure for their religion. Their religion meant the world to them it held them together. It was there when they needed it most. Greeks came together through the sharing of myths. Between 550 B.C. and 220 B.C.a myth was formed about Perseus, the son of Zeus and Danae. In this myth, it stated that: Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danae. Danaes father, King Acrisius, set Danae and her son adrift to sea because of the prophecy that Perseus would kill him This quote shows that Perseus was one of the warriors that the Greeks had believed in. He was one of the people that gave the Greeks strength in whatever they had to fight. They praised him, along with other gods and warriors, to show how thankful they were to idolize these strong men. The Greeks always had their doubts about each other

but they all had the same idols. Greek culture was very inter-blended with its myths. The Greeks were so merged with this culture that they formed a belief system that reinforced their cultural and religious values. Golden Age Historians claim the 5th century was the Golden age for Athens because of the victory they gained by the Persian war and the flourishing of literature through the century. The golden age was a great time period for the Athenians in Greece. They won the Persian war and the literature flourished for others to enjoy. The golden age brought a numerous amount of positive activities, hegemony, fair rights and centripetal forces. That is the reason historians claim it was the golden age. In the 5th century the Athenians gained victory because they won the Persian in war. The colonies in Greece near the Turkish coast were flourishing and soon the Persians took that part over. They soon began war and the Persian empire ridiculed the Greeks because they said they were unprepared and very easy to conquer. Especially Xerxes, because he made fun of the Persians and did not know that the Greeks were warriors and were very prepared with weapons and materials. There were many attempts of battle before the actual war, soon Persian empire prepared with a whole navy and 600 ships. Then the Athenians began to build over 2 hundred ships but the Persians did not know. The Greeks came together to battle with the Persians and try to defeat them. Xerxes tried to burn down Athens to the ground and many were slaughtered in Persia too. Even though the Persians did that they still were not able to take down the Athenians because they were much more prepared than the Persians. Afterwards the Athenians were the ones who won the war and gained victory and hegemony over the Greek city-states. Due to the war the Persians never

intruded the Athenians ever again. The golden age then began and they started to have much better things for their nation and life. Pericles was a statesman who helped the Athens citizens greatly and had supported the golden age. He had been the commander of the military for Athens during the Peloponnesian wars, and also used the money that the allies had saved during the war to fund for the rebuilding of Athens in 448 B.C. In doing those achievements, he had improved Athens greatly during the time until his death in 429 B.C. Pericles claimed, It is true we are called a democracy for the government is in the hands of many and not on the few. Neither is poverty or barrier but a man may benefit his country whatever be the obscurity of his condition. Pericles is claiming that poverty will not bother them, and their government is in the hands of many people not just an elite few. Since Pericles said that now many people in Athens have the right to speak for themselves and because of him it is now an organized country. Pericles really did improve the democracy because he made many things easier for people in Athens and gave the citizens more help especially because he said poverty will not be a barrier. This introduction of a more egalitarian democracy is how Pericles strengthened the golden age by making it easier for the Athenian men to say what they want. Pericles believed that an Athenian man, poor or rich should have equal rights to vote and participate in their society. Even if just the poor men were involved, others such as slaves and women felt better because the men in their families had a chance to participate. People felt more welcomed and involved in the community. The 5th century was also called the Golden age because of the flourishing of literature. Back before the golden age, there was a large change in democracy. As the golden age approached the higher classes were gaining power and the slaves were not doing so great because the higher classes were seizing their power. The men were the only ones allowed to

participate in activities that the golden age brought them. If the golden age did not happen then women would still not be allowed back before the Golden age the higher classes were not doing as well as they did in during it and also did not have much power as back then. There was also a big change in the architecture. Before the golden age there was no such thing as the Parthenon which was a temple for a Greek goddess Athena. During the golden age they had much more money and began to build that temple to honor the gods. All Greek citizens were then able to go to the Parthenon and enjoy the new architecture and admire its beauty. They also came together together to go to the Parthenon and pray to the gods and worship. There was a very big change in religion because before the golden age they did not really have any good place to worship the gods. Pericles was the person who built the Parthenon on the acropolis because of the victory over the Persians. There was also a change in the classical arts during the golden age. Before the golden age they had poor sculptured gods and people with wounds and cracks and unproportional bodies. But after during the golden age people had much more artistic ideas and began sculpting them much more professionally, they were formed perfectly and, very detailed. The Athenians had the ability to enjoy the art and observe the change through the century. Also the Athenians were able to contribute in drama and plays because the war is over. Athens winning the war was like heavy duty off their back and after that was when many of the centripetal forces began. The Athenians began to star in plays and perform them to other citizens to entertain them. The slaves were also allowed to go, but not without their masters. The golden age had a much more of a leisure based, luxurious lifestyle. The Athenians winning the Persian war was the beginning of the Golden Age . The main people who benefitted from the Golden age were the men. At firsts men were the ones that were able to contribute in all of the activities that the golden age had brought the

Athenians. Women were not able participate in anything during the golden age because they were used as property by men. Women were also not allowed to enjoy the literature of the arts which was very patriarchal. Afterwards the golden age reached a point where the democracy In overall men benefitted more in the golden age because they had much more advantages in the golden age. The Athenians have written the history in the perspective of a Greek, and wrote negatively about many. This had also supported the golden age for it has benefited many greatly with acknowledgement and have degraded the Persians during so.

Centrifugal Forces

Centrifugal forces that tend to divide a society apart are diseases, war, and power struggles. The impact that the plague has cause to the city-states was the effect on the quality of political leadership at Athens. Within 2.5 years of the war's outbreak, the plague had killed Pericles the greatest statesman of the era. Pericles had dominated the political and military horizons. Because of the Plague Athens was outraged to lose a man who had the courage and capacity to criticize the citizenry when necessary. In the article of the Impact of the plague in Ancient Greece the author spoke that Unlike other public figures, particularly those who followed, Pericles did not pander to the people; where the others flattered, he alone dared to speak the truth. This indicates that Pericles was not a person who likes to satisfy or please the public, he was a leader who spoke the truth and spoke with honesty. In Thucydides analysis of the plague, the plague had unleashed a anarchic chaotic spirit in the entire city. The people began to live for the moment ignoring all laws. They began to live in the state of nature, where there were no rules and organization in a community. It was no longer civilized, which acted as a centrifugal for in Athenian society.

While the plague represented a centrifugal force that corroded Athenian society from the inside, the Peloponnesian war acted as a centrifugal force that destroyed the unity of the Greek city-states. Based on the Melian dialogue, from Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War, both Athens and Sparta feared an increase in the others power and influence in the Peloponnese and attempted to increase their own by undermining others. Small independent states like Melos were forced to take sides. Melos had remained neutral between Sparta and Athens, however the Athenians did not accepts Melian neutrality. The Melians said And how, we ask, could it be as good for us to serve as it is for you to rule? Melians wanted to understand why was it so important for Athens to rule over everyone what would they gain. They didn't understand why the Athenians didnt believe in being fair and doing what's right. This was mainly because Athens thought that having power or ruling whatever and wherever they can was always the way of living and that what's right. The Athenians responded and said Because you would gain by submitting before suffering the worst, and we would gain by not destroying you. Athens think that if the Melos take the Athenian side they would save themselves from being destroyed by Athens. The Athenians also believed if they allowed Melian to remain free it would negatively reflect on Athens power and show vulnerability. Athens offered Melos to become part of the Athenian Empire, the Melians disagreed and were not ready to give up their freedom. Melos followed the law of nations the idea of fairness and what right. While Atheniens believe in the law of nature where every god and man rule whenever, where ever they can. As a result of the Melians attempting to keep their freedom and stay neutral the Athenians followed the law of nature and killed every Melian man and enslaved every women and child. This proves that dominance of one political power over another is essential for a city-state to succeed and become dominate. The Melian Dialogue represents the political idea of realism, which states

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that countries do not operate by principles of right and wrong, but rather countries operate out of self-interest, regardless of consequences.

Decline in Greek Hegemony

When Sparta defeated Athens after constantly fighting in the Peloponnesian war it destroyed Athens. It was bankrupt after all they have done. No city-state regained strength after the war so what was once a democracy was turned into an oligarchy. It was now known as the 30 tyrants. Sparta did not want Athens to regain all the power it had so they did all they could to stop it. Athens had all the protection but once they lost their power Sparta took advantage. Based on the timeline of the Peloponnesian War, Sparta made Athens tear down its protective walls, which shows that they didnt want Athens to take control like they used to before, they did anything to stop them. Even though Sparta defeated Athens and they lost all their power since they were weak and out of resources; they tried everything to stop Athens from regaining power again. Although they tried and did all they could the son of Philip of Macedonia Alexander the Great was left with all the power so he helped Athens with granting them the power back.

After Alexander conquered Greece, he set out to conquer the massive Persian Empire. It was a big role to conquer a big empire. But he was ready for the challenge, he helped spread Greek culture which preserved cultural achievements from the golden age even though Greek hegemony had fallen to Macedonia. Later on, Rome conquered the Macedonian territories, and later the Byzantine Empire turned the Parthenon into a Christian church, but artwork from Greece survived for 1,000 years. Even though the

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Byzantine empire was then conquered by the Ottoman empire, the Greek paintings were too important and valuable in peoples eyes to be destroyed. This was a big step for the preservation of Greek culture.

Alexander the great had the greatest influence in controlling the empires. He spread Greek ideas through cultures from the east Mediterranean sea to Asia. Historians call it the Hellenistic period, which signified cultural diffusion of Greek ideas throughout the ancient world from Alexandria, Egypt to the Indus River Valley. The Hellenistic Period lasted from 323 B.C-31 B.C (Document 4) Alexander was veracious at controlling the Hellenistic Era being so valiant in controlling all these countries. Though, He took a great time to be the greatest. Though, he used to see his father and imitate him to be so great as him. This shows how he was prudent with his decisions. He learned knowledge from his father Philip Of Macedon. Alexander the great shared the cultural diffusion between all countries he ruled. One of them was Rome. The Roman soldiers forgot their culture, instead they paid attention to the Greek culture, in which they called advanced. They didnt care about their works of art and played games on it. Regardless of what some Roman soldiers did to desecrate classical Greek art, Greek influence was adopted by the Romans and the rest of sestern civilization.

Conclusion

In conclusion, modern-day Athens has had chaos on the streets in Ancient Greece, when the plague broke out, and that is something to be concerned about. The situation in modern day Greece is feared to grow out of control. Looking back at how Ancient Greece

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collapsed, we want to prevent from doing the same mistakes. The Peloponnesian War left the city-states of Greece weak and loss of power. After that, Athens went to war with Sparta. During the plague outbreak, all the citizens of Athens were rebelling and breaking the laws. The Athenians did not care of committing crimes because they were already going to die of the plague. Modern day Athens has that chaos going on now, and if we are not careful the unrest in Athens will become a civil war. The war would only lead to Greece weakening even more, like in the past. Greece might be able to stop the violence by addressing what the dissenting groups really want. By giving the people of Greece their work back and cleaning the streets to fix Athens, they will be able to save the economy. If Greece had more investors instead of punishers, modern Greece might be able to reinvigorate itself. With the loan of money they could fix Athens to attract more tourists. This will bring the back to The Golden Age like in Ancient Greece, when they were at their best. With the money they gain, Greece will be able to pay back all the loans to the E.U and not collapse. With these ideas, Greece will be able to not make the same mistakes they made in the past.

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