On Athenian Territorial Defense In Classical Time

Territorial defense was an indivisible part of Athenian military activities. In the classical time, Athens adopted different defense strategies and tactics in different stage of time according to its actual situation. As Athens was one of the most important states, and kept most documents in Greece, to study the course of Athenian territorial defense became one of the most important parts in western ancient military history. This paper, based on original documents and making use of the method of documental analysis, lays its emphases on the course, reasons and impacts of strategies and practice of Athenian territorial defense in classical time.The paper begins with a short introduction. We give a definition of what to be discussed and a brief statement of its research at home and abroad. The method to deal with the material is also given.Then the strategies and practice in earlier stage of classical time follows. At this stage of time, Athens experienced two great wars. Because of different opponents and the change of its strength, the strategies and practice changed.The following concerns the later stage. The defeat in the Peloponnesian War triggered the reflection of far sighted men in Athens. After rethinking of its foreign relation and how to better defend Athens, they improved the strategies and practice.The paper ends with a conclusion. After the analysis, the following points can be got: first, in the classical time, the strategies and practice of Athenian territorial defense was not invariable but experienced a course of improvement; second, when framing the war to defend its territory, Athens has to consider the actual situation of its diploma, economy and military system, because the change of strategies and practice was stimulated by these factors; third, the strategies and practice enriched the western ancient military history.