Athens vs Sparta

The Peloponnesian War (history recorded in Thucydides - Peloponnesian War and Xenophon - Hellenica)

Most important conflict of the period

Fomented by Pericles

Athens

Democracy. (summary and references)  Athenian Democracy: a brief overview and The Development of Athenian Democracy (very good articles)

(still had slaves, radical democracy-all expected to participate, no lawyers-rhetoric instead, ostracism - banish those with too much influence)

“I find it astonishing that here wise men speak on public affairs, while fools decide them.”

Plutarch - Solon

Virtue: freedom, public virtue in state participation, recognition of excellence and diversity (without being trapped by one type of excellence)

Corruption: seeking power and dominion, pride, sacrificing the good for the expedient (if Pericles had been ostracised, they would not have continued the war)

Lesssons: democracy easily becomes mob rule (tyranny of the majority); a well-functioning democracy requires a virtuous, knowledgeable, involved population.

Sparta

Communal system, warlike.  Constantly under threat of revolt from their own subjects (helots).

Plutarch - Lycurgus

Whatever other Greeks may have thought of the particulars of the Spartan system, they admired the Spartans' unswerving respect for their laws as a guide to life in hostile surroundings, albeit of their own making. (Thomas Martin)

Virtue: Spartans stressed self-control, denial of passions, public virtue in loyalty to the state (shame for sons to survive losing a battle); achieved power and respect from all Greece

Corruption: exposure to luxeries, introduction of wealth (winning the war brought Athenian spoils to Sparta)

Lessons: the communal system can easily devide itself into classes, with an elite who no longer follows the rules of the communal system. An external threat makes it much easier to get people to follow the strict rules of the communal system.

Macedon

Kingdom (about Macedon)

Rome

Republic

(land ownership, patricians vs plebians, constant war)

Common virtue and corruption

Athens and Sparta were strong when the ruling class (citizens, not slaves) were united and equitable.  They fell when they became disunited, rich vs poor, etc. Class struggle is a symptom of lack of virtue in society.