Research On Aeschines’ Foreign Policy

Aeschines was one of the famous orator and statesman inancient Greece. In his time, Athens faced domestic trouble andforeign invasions, and could not find any support at all. Under thisbackground, Aeschines devoted himself to Athens politics, offeringadvice and suggestions for making Athens foreign policy. He wasknown for his pro- Macedonian faction, in most of his political career,He advocated Athens peaceful coexistence with Philip, believedcommitments made by Philip, and opposed to Demosthenes’ policy tostart war between Athens and Macedonia, all of which had asignificant impact on Athens foreign policy . This thesis is divided intofour chapters to analyze Aeschines’foreign polices. Chapter onemainly introduces the situations he faced when he had just started hispolitical career in Athens, that is the big historical background.Chapter two mainly discusses Aeschines foreign polices. This chapterfirstly discusses his proposals made after the fall of Olynthus. Then itfocuses on Aeschines’ viewpoints to the Peace of Philocrates and hissuggetions on the solutions to the Third Sacred War. Finally this paperexplains his lasting effect upon Athens, when he lost his rightful placein Athens. It mainly displays aroud the outbreak of the Forth SacredWar. Chapter three mainly states the reasons of reversing his polices in different stages. Chapter four mainly analyzes the infunces hispolicies had on Athens and himself respectively. Last the thesisdraws a conclusion to the whole paper.