Advocacy of Peace and War and its influence on the Athenians in the late 350's B.C

Abstract

From the end of the "Social War", peace is advocated repeatedly by the contemporary literary sources. Between 357 and 355, Athens was at war with some of her former allies who, with the assistance of Mausolus of Caria, broke off their alliance and initiated conflict with Athens. From an Athenian viewpoint, the war was disastrous: not only did the rebels launch successful raids against Lemnos, Imbros and laid waste to Samos, but they succeeded in defeating the Athenians at sea. This defeat, the financial expense of her recent wars and rumours that the Persian King was threatening to intervene on the side of the rebels, prompted the Athenians to make peace with her former allies. Thereafter, there is a noticeable decline in Athenian military activity. They abstained from war with Persia and they rejected proposals to intervene in the Peloponnese and Rhodes. Contemporary sources repeatedly complain that the Athenians were reluctant to perform their duty by serving on expeditions.