Greek polis and federations from the Archaic to the Late Hellenistic period

Pre-requisites: No prerequisites.

Course objectives: Acquiring knowledge about the development of the Greek polis and the origin of political and state alliances in the Greek world from the Archaic to the Late Hellenistic period.

Course description: This course examines the political and inter-state circumstances in the Greek world during the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic period that led to the creation and development of the Greek polis and to the strengthening of the idea of federalization and political alliances superseding the polis as a city-state. The structure of the polis as the basic and dominant state form in the Greek world is examined. We analyze the political alliances formed during the Archaic period (amphictyonies) and the political alliances of the Classical and Hellenistic period, from the Peloponnesian League under Sparta and Delian League under Athens to the numerous types of koina formed in the Hellenistic and Roman period, frequently under the patronage of Hellenistic rulers and Romans.

Learning Outcomes: Familiarity with the idea and meaning of the term polis in Antiquity and appreciation of the development of the Greek polis and its institutions.

Literature/Reading:

• M.H. Hansen, T.H. Nielsen (edd.), An Inventory of Archaic and Classical Poleis, Oxford 2004. V. Ehrenberg, The Greek State, London 1969. J. A. O. Larsen, Greek Federal States, Oxford 1968. M.H. Hansen, Polis. An introduction to the Ancient Greek City-State, Oxford 2006.
• R. Brock, Alternatives to Athens, Oxford 2000. F. Adcock, D. Mosley, Diplomacy in Ancient Greece, London 1975.