Achaemenid Interventionism in the Greek World. From the Peace of Kallias to the Peace of Antalkidas.
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2025-08-15
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en
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This study investigates the nature of Achaemenid interventionist policy in the Greek world between 449 and 386 BC, a period in which the Persian kings opted for a more diplomatic approach rather than direct confrontation. Traditionally, scholars have explained Persian interventions through the “balancing model,” derived from Thucydides, which argues that the Great Kings sought to defend their Ionian territories by playing Athens and Sparta against each other. In contrast, Hyland’s thesis suggests that the Kings were more ambitious and attempted to transform the Greek poleis into Persian client states through diplomacy. By re-examining three key episodes – the Peace of Kallias (449), Tissaphernes’ policies in 412–411, and the King’s Peace (386) – this study tests which model is preferable. The analysis demonstrates that Persian interventionism was neither monolithic nor continuous: policies varied throughout the entire period, which means that one of the models cannot sufficiently explain the Persian policy.
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