Demosthenes And The Athenian Foreign Policy

Demosthenes was the most famous orator and statesman in ancient Greece. During his life, Athens confronted with crisis from both internal and outside. In this circumstance, Demosthenes trained himself in oration from his youth and joined in the Athenian politics, exerting himself to advise on the foreign policy. He was famed for his resistance to Macedonia, in most of his political career, his hold the keen anti-Macedonia policy, which affected the Athenian foreign policy a lot. Based on the surviving evidence, this essay tries to probe into the relation between Demosthenes and the Athenian foreign policy.The frame of this essay is general-branches-general, every chapter and section arrange in consistence with the chronology, but concentrate on the special topic. The content is arranged as follows:Introduction: This introduction sets forth the purpose and intention of this subject, and explains the emphasis of this study. Besides, a large part of this introduction is devoted to the review of the evidence and the research home and abroad.The first chapter: the initial formation of Demosthenes' foreign policy-from the Social War to the delivery of For the Liberty of Rhodians. The environment of Demosthenes' initial join in the politics, as well as the historical background of this essay, contains the background of abroad, internal and the individual. The international background is the development of the Greek politics among the states in the half of the forth century B.C. This section discusses the changes of the power of Sparta, Thebes,Persia and Macedonia, their relations with Athens and the effects on Athens. The section on the internal background concentrates on the characters of the Athenian politics. First, the Athenian politics was a system in which, individual is responsible to their advices while the assembly possessed the power to make the decision; Second, the fate of the politician was related to whether the foreign policy succeeded. The section on the individual background concentrates on Demosthenes' growth, mainly on his family and lawsuit in adolescence. The last section is about Demosthenes' first rising into public notice, involving three of his early orations. At this time, however, Demosthenes was a figure who attracted little notice, and did not affect in essence the Athenian politics.The second chapter: the fierce critics of Demosthenes the Athenian foreign policy- from the delivery of First Phillpic to the Peace of Philocrates. This chapter is divided into three sections. The first section is about the problem of the north Greece and the change of Demosthenes' political view. The expansion of Macedonia attracted Demosthenes' attention. The delivery of First Phillpic showed that the Macedonian issue had turned into the crucial one of his political views. The second section is about the occupation of Olynthus. The Macedonian attacked Olynthus, but the Athenians hesitated, although Demosthenes delivered three orations in succession, calling for support Olynthus, and reformed the payment of Theoric Fund. The last section is about the Peace of Philocrates. In 346B.C, Athenians and Philip II negotiated. Supported by Olynthus, Demosthenes was selected as a member of ten Athenian envoys, which made him a central figure in making foreign policy. During this time, Demosthenes was just a critic, and his advices were not adopted by Athenians.The third chapter: Demosthenes' leading of the Athenian foreign affairs- from the Third Sacred War to the battle of Chaeronea. This chapter is divided mainly in three sections. The first is about the raise of Demosthenes' position in Athenian political circles, which is exhibited in four aspects: his firmly opposition to the Peace of Philocrates and his being approved by the Athenians; his increasingly close relation with the Areopagus; his delivery of On the Halonessus, the policy anti-Philip II and his status as a spokesman of the Athenians. The second section is about Demosthenes' 'control' over the making of Athenian foreign policy. When Athens tried to make alliance with Euboea and when Philip II attacked Thrace and Propontis, Demosthenes' effects emerged from all the Athenian foreign policies, he also played an important role in making the policies. So it seems that Demosthenes had become a main proposer of the Athenian foreign policy. The third section is about the role of Demosthenes in the battle of Chaeronea. The Forth Sacred War was the prelude of the battle of Chaeronea, in which Demosthenes played a key role and arranged an alliance with Thebes. This time was the climax of Demosthenes' reputation, and the Athenian foreign policies derived mainly from his advices.The forth chapter: the continue effect of Demosthenes on the Athenian foreign policy-from the congress of Corinth to the siege of Lamia. This chapter is divided into three sections. The first section is about the raise of the problem that although scholars either are regardless of Demosthenes' political views or even denied his effect, it is not true. The second section is about the role of Demosthenes in the revolt of Agis III. Proposed by Demosthenes, Athens did not support Agis III, which testified right. The third section is about Harpalus scandal and 'the Decree of Exiles'. Demosthenes played a role in these two events, and from the two events we can analyze his political views at this time. After the accession of Alexander III, Demosthenes seldom deliver orations, but he sustain an effect on Athenian affairs.The conclusion is a summary. This essay points out that, we can't summarize the whole political career of Demosthenes, just regarding him as a leader anti-Macedonia, a patriot, a national hero or even a man with stubborn resistance to the historical progress. The characters of the Athenian democracy emerge from his political career: individual was responsible to their advice while the assembly possessed the power to make the decision; the politicians were restricted when they stood forward prominently to advise the Athenians.