The Melian councillors made a horrible mistake by not accepting the terms of the Athenians in 416. Although they had a truce, during the latter part of Peloponnesian War, the growing unease of the Athenians and Spartans, who were still weary of each other, caused the independent states, including the Melians, to become targets for the larger leagues. The Athenians decided they should acquire Melos, whose people monetarily supported the Spartans, but also claimed to be a neutral state. The Melians were given the option of peacefully joining the Athenians, but thought that it was not necessary for them to do that, because they could not possibly lose in battle. If I was a Melian citizen at the time of this decision, I would strongly oppose the
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In Thucydides, the Melians argued that by going against them, they would make enemies of all the neutral states, “When they see what you are doing here they will expect an attack on themselves before long (5.98).” They finish their statement by talking about how this would only serve to increase their existing enemy’s strength, and make enemies out of people that were not their enemies before (5.98). This statement reflects on the fact that they had to threaten the Athenians through other people’s actions and not through their own, proving that they could not stand alone. The argument solely depends on the fact that other neutral Greek states would actually become alarmed and revolt. There is an extreme reliance on the fact that they needed to depend on these outside powers and not on themselves. This argument is also weak, because the Melians could not actually have concrete proof that this would happen, and instead were trying to create an argument from things that might have occurred in the future, by people whom they had no control over. Their entire strategy depended on non Melian groups helping their argument, because they were not strong enough to depend on themselves. There was also no guarantee that this reaction would even occur from the neutral city states, and they could have used the …show more content…
The Athenians even told the Melians, many times, that they would not receive the help they claimed they had coming from Sparta (5.105). The Melians rebuked these claims stating that, “Spartan strength will make up for our deficiency in strength-if for no other reason, they will be bound to fight for us out of kinship and a sense of honour (5.104).” This is yet another instance, of the Melians' strongly depending on an outside state, rather than themselves, to guarantee a win at war. The Melians continue on into a lengthy argument defending Sparta’s honour, stating that, the Spartans will save them because they look after their own self interest, and the Melians fall under that umbrella, because they are a Spartan colony (5.106). This is just another excuse for them to depend on an outside source, rather than on themselves. They state that the Spartans will help them because of their loyalty, kinship and geographic location near the Peloponnese (5.108). The Melians number one objective was to rely on other sources for their power, and not themselves. The issue is not what the Melians promise of the Spartans; it is that they are making promises that they have no way of assuring come true. Interestingly enough, at this time the Spartans were known for not providing overseas military
In Thucydides, the Melians argued that by going against them, they would make enemies of all the neutral states, “When they see what you are doing here they will expect an attack on themselves before long (5.98).” They finish their statement by talking about how this would only serve to increase their existing enemy’s strength, and make enemies out of people that were not their enemies before (5.98). This statement reflects on the fact that they had to threaten the Athenians through other people’s actions and not through their own, proving that they could not stand alone. The argument solely depends on the fact that other neutral Greek states would actually become alarmed and revolt. There is an extreme reliance on the fact that they needed to depend on these outside powers and not on themselves. This argument is also weak, because the Melians could not actually have concrete proof that this would happen, and instead were trying to create an argument from things that might have occurred in the future, by people whom they had no control over. Their entire strategy depended on non Melian groups helping their argument, because they were not strong enough to depend on themselves. There was also no guarantee that this reaction would even occur from the neutral city states, and they could have used the …show more content…
The Athenians even told the Melians, many times, that they would not receive the help they claimed they had coming from Sparta (5.105). The Melians rebuked these claims stating that, “Spartan strength will make up for our deficiency in strength-if for no other reason, they will be bound to fight for us out of kinship and a sense of honour (5.104).” This is yet another instance, of the Melians' strongly depending on an outside state, rather than themselves, to guarantee a win at war. The Melians continue on into a lengthy argument defending Sparta’s honour, stating that, the Spartans will save them because they look after their own self interest, and the Melians fall under that umbrella, because they are a Spartan colony (5.106). This is just another excuse for them to depend on an outside source, rather than on themselves. They state that the Spartans will help them because of their loyalty, kinship and geographic location near the Peloponnese (5.108). The Melians number one objective was to rely on other sources for their power, and not themselves. The issue is not what the Melians promise of the Spartans; it is that they are making promises that they have no way of assuring come true. Interestingly enough, at this time the Spartans were known for not providing overseas military