What was the Melian argument?



The Melians argue that they are a neutral city and not an enemy, so Athens has no need to conquer them. The Athenians counter that if they accept Melos’ neutrality and independence, they would look weak: Their subjects would think that they left Melos alone because they were not strong enough to conquer it.

When was the Melian debate?

416 BC

In particular, The Melian Dialogue provides a perennial insight into politics, power and international relations. The dialogue takes place in 416 BC at a point during the Peloponnesian War when the Athenians and Spartans were in a stalemate after both sides agreed to the Peace of Nicias.

What was the focus of the Mytilenian debate?





The Mytilenean Debate (also spelled “Mytilenaean Debate”) was the Athenian Assembly concerning reprisals against the city-state of Mytilene, which had attempted unsuccessfully to shake off Athenian hegemony during the Peloponnesian War.

What was Athens response to the melians insistence?

What was Athens’s response to the Melians’ insistence that they and their island remain neutral in the Peloponnesian War? The Athenians respected the Melians’ neutrality. Athens converted the Delian League into an empire by forbidding the members to withdraw and by controlling the League treasury.

Who won Mytilenean debate?

Mytilenean revolt

Date 428-7 BC
Location Lesbos
Result Athenian victory





Who won the battle of Mytilene?

The Battle of Mytilene was a naval battle that occurred on 8 September 1690 at Mytilene between a Venetian fleet under Daniele Dolfin and a combined Muslim fleet made up of Ottoman and Barbary ships. The battle resulted in a victory for the Venetian naval forces.

What did the Mytilenean revolt reveal about Athenian democracy?

Answer and Explanation: The Mytilenean Revolt revealed a few things about Athenian democracy. First, it did not preclude imperialism, though no faction involved in this particular conflict came off as particularly virtuous. It also revealed how fickle Athenian democracy could be.

What is the main idea of Thucydides?

Thucydides’ central theme is Athenian imperialism. Repeatedly in his pages we hear Athens’ spokesmen defend the city’s imperialism by denying that “right” or justice has any role in relations between cities.

What did Thucydides say was the real cause of the Peloponnesian War?

A number of sources of friction sparked the hostilities, notably Athenian intervention in a quarrel between Corinth (Sparta’s ally) and her colony Corcyra, but the real reason for the conflict, according to the Athenian historian Thucydides, was the rise of Athens to greatness, which made the Spartans fear for their

Who is to blame for the Peloponnesian War?



The reasons for this war are sometimes traced back as far as the democratic reforms of Cleisthenes, which Sparta always opposed. However, the more immediate reason for the war was Athenian control of the Delian League, the vast naval alliance that allowed it to dominate the Mediterranean Sea.

What were 4 causes of the Peloponnesian War?

The main reasons proposed are:

  • Sparta was jealous of other powers and desired more power for itself.
  • Sparta was unhappy at no longer having all the military glory.
  • Athen bullied its allies and neutral cities.
  • There was a conflict among city-states between competing political ideologies.