Athenian Power in the Fifth Century BC

by: Lazar, L.

Athenian Power in the Fifth Century BC

Leah Lazar

Oxford Classical Monographs

Decentralised analysis of the Athenian empire, bringing subjects to centre stage, and considering regional variation
Utilises different forms of critical historical comparison
Offers a broad-based contribution as part of the economic turn in Athenian empire studies

Description
Athenian Power in the Fifth Century BC provides a new analysis of the fifth-century BC Athenian empire, a central topic in ancient Greek history. Challenging orthodox approaches, which have been mostly empirical, monolithic and focused on Athens, the book argues that Athenian power was flexible and a matter of negotiation between the Athenians and their allies. It brings the allies to centre stage as active agents, and considers how the Athenian empire operated in different regions. The first three chapters focus on political, fiscal and religious interactions between the Athenians and their allies in Athenian contexts. The subsequent three chapters then offer studies of the empire in three different regions - the North Aegean, Rhodes, and the straits between the Aegean and the Black Sea - showing how the empire employed overlapping but differentiated regional strategies. This book is distinct from previous contributions in three key ways. First, it offers new perspectives on well-known Athenian epigraphic and literary sources, while also utilising different categories of non-Athenian evidence, including varied forms of material culture. Second, it provides sophisticated economic analysis. Third, the monograph makes use of critical historical comparison: with other imperial powers, with later Athenian power, and with the operation of fifth-century Athenian power in different regions.

Table of Contents
A note on texts, translations and transliteration
Abbreviations
Maps
Introduction
1:Athenian decrees, negotiation and negotiators
2:Negotiation, flexibility and corruption in the Athenian tribute system
3:Athenian festival culture and allied integration
4:From the Thermaic Gulf to Thasos: Athenian power in the North Aegean
5:Athens, Rhodes and the Eastern Mediterranean
6:Athens, Daskyleion and Kyzikos: Athenian power between the Aegean and the Black Sea
Conclusion: revolt and ruddle on fourth-century Keos
Appendix: Fifth-Century Athenian decrees
Bibliography

Athenian Power in the Fifth Century BC

by: Lazar, L.

• ISBN-13: 9780198896265 / 978-0-19-889626-5
• ISBN-03: 0198896263 / 0-19-889626-3
• Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2024