GRC20270

This module explores the rise and fall of the Athenian empire from its beginnings in the wake of the Greco-Persian wars in the early 470s to its defeat at the hands of Sparta in 404 BC, as well as Athenian attempts to recapture such pre-eminence in the early fourth century. It reflects on the nature of imperialism in antiquity, as well as how Athenian ascendancy shaped not only one of the most famous cities of antiquity, but also the wider Mediterranean world. Drawing on a wide range of material and literary culture from the period we will analyse how this ‘new’ way of exercising power was conceptualised and how later ancient writers judged Athenian dominance. We shall closely examine the historical works of Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, and Diodorus Siculus, draw on the plays of Aristophanes and Euripides, philosophers such as Xenophon, Plato, and Aristotle, as well as the biographies of Plutarch and speeches of the Attic orators in order to debate the history of the 'empire' and the problem of power and imperialism in ancient Greek thought. We also will examine the ways in which Athenian visual and material culture, e.g. epigraphic (inscriptions) and numismatics (coins) - including examples held in the UCD museum - as well as the 5th century Athenian building programme communicates Athenian imperial ideology and power to ancient and modern audiences.