The Hellenistic Peloponnese : interstate relations : a narrative and analytic history, from the fourth century to 146 BC

Existing treatments of Peloponnesian history are fragmented by poleis and period. This book offers a comprehensive narrative of the political history of the entire Peloponnese from 371 to 146 BC, using both literary and epigraphic evidence. In the Hellenistic Peloponnese a long shadow was cast by the geo-political changes of the 4th century. Many continuities trace back to the forty years after Leuktra (371-330). Internal divisions and alliances are interwoven with the interventions of external powers: Thebans, Macedonian rulers, and finally the Romans. The author's findings reveal remarkable consistencies in the history of the Peloponnese. After Sparta's long-invincible army was defeated at the battle of Leuktra, there was much in Sparta's influence which was far from crushed. Not only did Sparta's confidence persist, as she agitated for centuries to renew her power; other states of the Peloponnese conducted their own foreign policies in reaction either to Sparta's decline or, especially, to her resurgence - and to the prospect of further resurgence still. The book reveals continuity as regards Sparta in the foreign policies of Elis, most of Arkadia, Messenia, and the Achaian Confederacy. These definite patterns formed Peloponnesian history far beyond the narrow relation of each community to Sparta: they also shaped the relation of most major Peloponnesian powers to each other. "Modern treatments of Peloponnesian history are often fragmented by poleis and period. This book offers a comprehensive narrative of the political history of the entire Peloponnese from 371 to 146 bc, using both literary and epigraphic evidence. In the Hellenistic Peloponnese a long shadow was cast by the great changes of the 4th century. After Sparta's long-invincible army had been defeated at the battle of Leuktra (371), internal divisions and alliances were patterned by the interventions of external powers: Thebans, Macedonian rulers, and finally the Romans. The author's findings reveal remarkable consistencies in the history of the Peloponnese. Sparta's confidence and ambition refused to die; other Peloponnesian states conducted foreign policies in reaction initially to Sparta's decline but, later, to her resurgence -- and to the prospect of further resurgence still. The book reveals continuity as regards Sparta in the foreign policies of Elis, most of Arkadia, Messenia, and the Achaian Confederacy. These definite patterns formed Peloponnesian history far beyond the narrow relation of each community to Sparta: they also shaped the relation of most major Peloponnesian states to each other and to external powers." -- Publisher's description THE HELLENISTIC PELOPONNESE 2 CONTENTS 6 LIST OF MAPS 12 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 16 ABBREVIATIONS 18 INTRODUCTION 22 1 FROM LEUKTRA TO MANTINEIA (371–362) 36 2 IN THE ARMS OF THE ARGEADS: THE BEGINNINGS OF THE HELLENISTIC PERIOD FOR THE PELOPONNESE 84 3 HOW DID THE PELOPONNESIANS FARE WITH THE 120 AND WITHOUT THE SPARTANS? (323–280) 120 4 THE SPARTANS RETURN – MACEDON AND SPARTA BRING PELOPONNESIANS TOGETHER 150 5 THE EMERGENCE AND EXPANSION OF THE ACHAIAN CONFEDERACY: THE POLITICAL UNIFICATION OF THE NORTH-EASTERN AND CENTRAL PELOPONNESE 182 6 ‘THE SPARTANS WEREN’T TO BE LED AND ORDERED AROUND’: 240 THE PELOPONNESIAN 240 BETWEEN THE ACHAIAN CONFEDERACY AND KLEOMENES III 240 7 THE SOCIAL WAR: PHILIP V BEARING GIFTS TO THE ACHAIAN CONFEDERACY AND RESHAPING INTRA-PELOPONNESIAN RELATIONS 302 8 THE DISASTROUS UNIFICATION OF THE PELOPONNESE 346 9 ASPECTS OF FRIENDLY INTRA-PELOPONNESIAN RELATIONS: PARTICIPATION IN FESTIVALS AND AWARDING OF HONOURS 434 CONCLUSIONS 524 BIBLIOGRAPHY 532 Existing treatments of Peloponnesian history are fragmented by poleis and period. This work offers a comprehensive narrative of the political history of the entire Peloponnese from 371 to 146 BC, using both literary and epigraphic evidence