To Arms or Not to Arms Against Corcyra
Attention! Attention! Is it time for taking up arms or not? The Corcyraeans and Corinthians are debating here in Athens to persuade us on our participation in the upcoming war. Do we join Corcyra; the city that started the colony of Epidamnus, or do we join the original colonizing city of Corinth? To fully understand the potential of war, Athens must understand both sides and therefore we, Athens, will be able to decide on the stance we must take. Do we go to war with the Corcyraeans (those that have remained neutral in the past) or do we remain neutral as asked by the Corinthians (those that have served with us in the past)? Should Athens help defend the Corcyraeans even when they admit that they have failed to be part of any alliances in the past? As a colony that has been set apart by their own actions comes running when they can't even work out their own problems wants, nay, needs Athens' help. The Corcyraeans stated to the Athenian assembly that they themselves chose not to have alliances by stating "when a people that have not rendered any important service or support to their neighbors in times past" (1.32.1). These representatives from Corcyra believe that their past isolation has helped their growth. Now onc
Athens knows it is the greatest naval power in Greece. Do we sit idly by and support our old allies? Or do we join a new ally and forgot our past allegiances? Both parties have given strong positions on why Athens should join either side. This would benefit both Athens and Corcyra in trade and especially in war: "being able to bar the passage of naval reinforcements from. It's not like us, Athens, needs to be pumped up about our own navy. The Corcyraeans believe that they can suck up to Athens by throwing praise upon the city. They also summed up the speech to say that one great naval power is better than three separate naval powers - Athens, Corinth, and Corycra. Now once the Corycraeans finished, the Corinthians had a chance to tell their side to the assembly. This was proven when Corinth stated: "it was not before they laid siege to the place, but after they at length understood that we would not tamely suffer it, that they thought of the specious word arbitration" and "they appear here now requiring you to join them not in alliance" (1. Because of Corycra's isolation from past political alliances, they have been put into a situation where they can not defend themselves and they must come crawling to Athens for assistance; and quite possibly survival from Corinth. Now this is pretty harsh coming from Corinth. They began attacking the policy of isolation by Corycra by stating that Corycra pirated the ships of the Greek powers and not the policy of moderation stated by the Corycraeans.
Common topics in this essay:
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Acceptance Essays
