‘Political Ideology Was the Main Cause of Conflict in the Greek World’ – How Far Do You Agree?

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The conflict between the Spartans and her allies and Athenian Empire was caused by several factors. Individuals indeed played a key role in the cause of conflict. However, they alone could not initiate conflict. Political ideology acted as a springboard from which they could exploit. Although, trade and financial advantages were often the most prominent, yet hidden cause of conflict in the Greek World. The Sicilian Expedition overwhelmingly demonstrates that the Economy was of major importance to Athens, which directly led to a large scale conflict. Athens sailed Thousands of miles to Sicily as they misbelieved the Island was full of treasures which the local towns possessed. Also, Sicily was in a advantageous position, being close to the African and Italian coast, which would help enhance Athens’s wealth. Although it can be argued that Alcibiades initiated the invasion, Athens’s would not have led a costly campaign to Sicily just because of one man. Furthermore, there was no need to spread Democracy to Sicily as Syracuse itself was using this ideology. Sparta led a campaign to Thrace in order to exploit the local mines and timber there, for their own benefit and as a way of weakening Athens. The Old Oligarch tells us that Athens’s trade vastly improved as their Empire increased; therefore acting as a cause of conflict as Athens would want to improve their economy which could only be done by engaging in conflict with other city states. The Old Oligarch is reasonably reliable as it is a piece of archaeological evidence which was supposedly written by Xenophon. However, it has not been proven who actually wrote it and so its reliability decreases. Finally, the Reassessment of tribute from Athens indicates that the Economy was of prominence importance as a cause of conflict as Athens needed more funds in order to continue the conflict against Sparta. However, the
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