Early History of the Hellenes

     This reading describes the development and progression of the Hellenes. Hellas was not a settled country in ancient times. Rather, the people migrated, and were continuously vulnerable to attack and overthrow from other people groups. There was no accumulation of wealth or commerce. When people were successful because of good land, people fought over the power that could be acquired. If the land was poor, then the people did not fight, because there was nothing to fight over. Hellen and his sons became powerful in Phthiotis, and eventually the people called themselves after this name. Other parts of the development were as follows: Minos established the first navy. Piracy was a constant threat, and people carried weapons at all times because of the danger. The Athenians were the first to put down their weapons and adopt an easier and more luxurious way of life. The shores began to consist of walled towns to be protected from pirates, and these coast populations began to acquire wealth and become more settled. The climax is the Peloponnesian War in which Athens is overthrown by Sparta.

     Thucydides, the author of this reading, is an Ancient Greek historian of the fifth century B.C. He suggests that a change in hierarchy of weaker states does not really affect the stability of the overall system. However, when stronger states are fighting for power, then instability and disaster can occur. This is what happened with the great power of Athens rising and intimidating Sparta. People continue to look back on the Peloponnesian War and learn from its principles of power and hierarchy.

     An interesting part of this account is that the Hellenes and other coastal barbarians were tempted to become pirates. They were becoming more accustomed to the ways of the sea, and becoming pirates and plundering vulnerable cities and villages would be a good way to provide for their own needs, and help support the needy. The unusual aspect is that apparently in these times being a pirate, and doing these things, was an honorable occupation, and not a disgraceful one. I cannot imagine plundering cities and villages being an honorable thing. Perhaps whoever could acquire the resources they needed were respected and honored. Perhaps the honor was given based on a "survival of the fittest" attitude. If you needed to take someone else's resources to survive, then so be it.
     The development and settling of a people group causes me to think about what we are learning and discussing in my anthropology class. The Hellenes migrated a great deal, and carried weapons to protect themselves in their vulnerability. They eventually became familiar with the ways of the sea, and acquired more wealth. They eventually became a settled people, but it took awhile. All people groups have to endure that process in some way or another to survive. Whether it is tribal people in the Amazon Rainforest, settlers traveling to a new land, or the Hellenes, each people group must be in a location where there is enough food, where they can have some form of protection, shelter, and other resources. Without these basic needs a people group cannot survive. The determining factor of who is the most powerful is who is the most successful at this quest. The people group that is doing the best job at producing abundant food, having shelter for all its people, protecting its people, and effectively using resources will be the most powerful. I never really thought about the acquiring of power in this way before.

     The struggle that ultimately occurred between Athens and Sparta reminds me of the struggle between the Soviet Union and America. The Peloponnesian War seems to parallel the Cold War very much. In the very beginning of the Hellenes, if people started becoming successful they fought over the power. This principle holds true at every level. When powers rise, conflicts often emerge. When certain nations rise in power, it makes other nations nervous. Iran’s nuclear powers, and China’s potential to be a global power, are things that make America nervous. Mankind will always struggle over power. Adam and Eve wanted to be “like God”, so they disobeyed God and sinned. Man wanted a higher position of power. It is how man began, and man will always struggle with this temptation.

Sources:

Text Book

http://www.hri.org/por/thucydides.html