The Hellenistic Polis: networking to Survive
Alexander the Great is the end of the polis society. This is the opinion of many ancient historians. I
disagree and with me several scholars. I think the polis society is alive and kicking. They are not just citizens of a
king; they are acting on the highest diplomatic stage. And luckily we do have
information about the working of the diplomatic relations. On this webpage I
will discuss the networking behind the diplomacy. What are the decisions they make to survive in a world of
kings.
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Figure I: Ptolemy Soter (367-283 BC), One of the Generals of Alexander and the first Greek Farao of Egypt.
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The polis, an introduction
The polis
society was based on autonomy, equal rights and a sense of community. It
was important for the polis to
conduct their foreign policy. In the classical period, this foreign policy was
based on the principal of war. It was essential to assure alliances, to defeat
their combine enemies. After a short period the alliance would often break and
the former allies would confront each other in war. In the polis the only one who could participate in politics were citizens
of the polis. They were also the only persons who could own land and houses. Furthermore
they would pay less tax than foreigners. A foreigner could theoretically live
for generations in a polis, but that
doesn’t make him a citizen. In the classical period poleis were very careful
with their citizenships right.
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Figure II: The Empire of Alexander.
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In 323 BC the combined Greek troops are crushingly defeated by King Philip II of Macedon. After that the Greek polis wouldn’t reach its former glory. They will become part of the Hellenistic kingdoms, The Roman and the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire. Does the society change in a blink of the eye? Some historians do think so. Other historians disagree; they point out the emphasis on the polis institutions. The poleis will still prepare their youngsters for a war. The polis is still that what identifies the common Greek. The most important argument that the polis dies a quiet dead is that the poleis can’t go to war. But will this loss of autonomy kill the diplomacy in the Greek world or does the diplomacy survive the great changes of that time. The poleis still conduct diplomacy in this period. We will look closer to one example were poleis do have diplomatic relations.
Two Poleis exchanging Citizenship
The first example we will look upon is an exchange of citizenship in Asia Minor. In Hellenistic period was the Attilide Empire of Pergamon a power in the Greek diplomatic circus. In the early third century it was just became independent of the Macedonian empire. A few miles from Pergamon there was a small polis, Temnos. The text below is about the exchanging of citizenship between those two poleis.
Boule and demos [decided]; proposal of the strategoi: [whereas the] demos of the Temnitans is in fact affectionately disposed towards the demos of the Pergamenes, with good fortune, be it resolved by the boule and the demos: to dispatch two envoys who, arriving (in Temnos), shall declare the good will towards them, and who shall address them to the effect that both cities decree isopolity; and, if this seems suitable to the Temnitans, for those dispatched to conclude )an agreement) about this as fully empowered (representateives). Chosen were Apollonides (son) of Apelles and H[…] (son) of Hermippos. With good fortune, resolved by the Temnitans and Pergamenes, (at Temnos) the prytanis being the one after [Herak]leides, (son) of Ditas, in the Month Heraion: for Temnitans to have citizenship in Pergamon and for Pergamenes (to have citizenship) [in Temnos], sharing in what the other [citizens share in], and for [the Temnitan] in Pergamon and the Pergamene in Temnos to have the right of owning land and house; and for the Temnitan to pay [ taxes in Pergamon, as much as the] Pergamene pays, and for the Pergamene (to pay taxes) [in Temnos, as much as the] Temnitan pays. (Roger S. Bagnall en Peter Derow, Historical sources in Translation, The Hellenistic Period, 2004)
What is so exiting about this exchange of citizenship? In the classical period the Greeks granted in really extraordinary occasions citizenship to one person. But in this case two whole cities gave it to each other. Where are some situation where to poleis become one poleis. But that isn’t happening in Pergamum. They are just exchanging the citizenship. But why do they do it? First we will look upon it from the perspective of Pergamon. They are eager to get some allies in to ensure their freedom. But Pergamon doesn’t has a harbor for itself. Temnos is a city very close to the sea. So this is an opportunity. When the Pergamenes have the citizenship of Temnos they pay less tax. The Pergamese will also become the right to own land in the area of Temnos. It is possible that Pergamon had a shortage of land and this was the solution to solve it.
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Figure III: Model of the city of Pergamum.
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What is so exiting about this exchange of citizenship? In the classical period the Greeks granted in really extraordinary occasions citizenship to one person. But in this case two whole cities gave it to each other. Where are some situation where to poleis become one poleis. But that isn’t happening in Pergamum. They are just exchanging the citizenship. But why do they do it? First we will look upon it from the perspective of Pergamon. They are eager to get some allies in to ensure their freedom. But Pergamon doesn’t has a harbor for itself. Temnos is a city very close to the sea. So this is an opportunity. When the Pergamenes have the citizenship of Temnos they pay less tax. The Pergamese will also become the right to own land in the area of Temnos. It is possible that Pergamon had a shortage of land and this was the solution to solve it.
It looks like this are enough advantages for the city of Pergamon. But what are the benefits for Temnos? The fragment states that the citizens share in all the inhabitants of both poleis share in. So the citizens could cast their vote in both cities. And maybe more important they share in the defense of each other. This historical period is a period of mayhem in the whole of the Greek world. The successors are fighting each other and don’t have the possibility to ensure safety for their people. This is the way the people of Temnos secure their borders, without becoming subject to other poleis.
It looks like this are enough advantages for the city of Pergamon. But what are the benefits for Temnos? The fragment states that the citizens share in all the inhabitants of both poleis share in. So the citizens could cast their vote in both cities. And maybe more important they share in the defense of each other. This historical period is a period of mayhem in the whole of the Greek world. The successors are fighting each other and don’t have the possibility to ensure safety for their people. This is the way the people of Temnos secure their borders, without becoming subject to other poleis.
To Conclude
The main reason why poleis granted citizenship to each other
is to ensure themselves of a number of things. The Reason why Pergamon is eager
to get the citizenship of Temnos is because it gives the city an opportunity to
trade for a lower price and they create the option to own land in Temnos. The
main reason they hold such close ties is because it will out rule a fight.
Temnos subject to another power than the independent Pergamon. Where in the
classical period war was the main solution for problems, is in the Hellenistic period
diplomacy the solution to solve problems. So the powers ensure there won’t be a
clash between two superpowers. And so they will not be destroyed in a war. So they network to survive.
DH.
DH.
Further Reading
- Blois L. de, en R.J. van der Spek, Een kennismaking met de Oude Wereld, Bussum: Coutinho, 2001.
- Ehrenberg, Victor, The Greek State, Oxford: Blackwell, 1969.
- Gruen, Erich S. “The Polis in the Hellenistic world” in Nomodeiktes: Greek studies in Honor of Martin Oswald, Ralph M. Rosen en Joseph Farrell (eds), Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press, 1993.
- Hansen, Mogens Herman, “The Hellenic polis” in A Comparative study of Thirty City-state cultures Mogens Herman Hansen (ed.) Kopenhagen: C.A. Reitzels Forlag, 2000.
- Jones, A.H.M. The Greek City: From Alexander to Justinian, Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1971.
- Lendering, Jona, Alexander de Grote: De ondergang van het Perzische rijk, Amsterdam: Atheneum-Polak& Van Gennep, 2004.
- Morgan, Janett, The Classical Greek House, Bristol: Phoenix Press, 2010
- Nijf, Onno M. van, en Richard Alston, Political culture in the Greek city after the Classical age, Leuven: Peeters, 2011.
- Polybius, Histories
- Walbank, F.W., The Hellenistic World, Sussex: The Foxhall, Lin, “The Running Sands of time: Archaeology and the short term” in World Archaeology 31 No. 3 (Feb 2000) 484-98.
- Ehrenberg, Victor, The Greek State, Oxford: Blackwell, 1969.
- Gruen, Erich S. “The Polis in the Hellenistic world” in Nomodeiktes: Greek studies in Honor of Martin Oswald, Ralph M. Rosen en Joseph Farrell (eds), Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press, 1993.
- Hansen, Mogens Herman, “The Hellenic polis” in A Comparative study of Thirty City-state cultures Mogens Herman Hansen (ed.) Kopenhagen: C.A. Reitzels Forlag, 2000.
- Jones, A.H.M. The Greek City: From Alexander to Justinian, Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1971.
- Lendering, Jona, Alexander de Grote: De ondergang van het Perzische rijk, Amsterdam: Atheneum-Polak& Van Gennep, 2004.
- Morgan, Janett, The Classical Greek House, Bristol: Phoenix Press, 2010
- Nijf, Onno M. van, en Richard Alston, Political culture in the Greek city after the Classical age, Leuven: Peeters, 2011.
- Polybius, Histories
- Walbank, F.W., The Hellenistic World, Sussex: The Foxhall, Lin, “The Running Sands of time: Archaeology and the short term” in World Archaeology 31 No. 3 (Feb 2000) 484-98.