Research On The Achaean Confederacy Of Hellenistic Age

In order to resist Macedonia together, the Achaean Confederacywas rebuilt in281B.C. Subsequently, under the leadership of thegeneral Aratus, the Achaean Confederacy not only liberated Corinthfrom the control of Macedonia, but incorporated many economicallydeveloped cities. So the Confederacy reached its peak. With theprosperity of the Achaean Confederacy, it faced increasingly complexinternational environment. In146B.C, the Achaean War broke out; theAchaean Confederacy was defeated by Roman and disintegrated.The Achaean Confederacy of Hellenistic Age was an importantGreek federal state in the history of ancient Greece. Although itsexistence was not long time (from281B.C to146B.C), it had leftindelible mark in the Hellenistic Age. The study on the AchaeanConfederacy in this period will greatly contribute to ourunderstanding on the politics, economy, law and diplomacy of Greekfederal states in Hellenistic Age and the history of Hellenistic period.On the basis of research results of Chinese and foreign scholars, theauthor intends to respect the Confederacy’s organizational structuremore systematic study.The organizational structure of the Achaean Confederacy consistsof its organization and the relationship between Confederacy and itsvarious members. This article will introduce the institution of the Achaean Confederacy from three aspects: meeting, office and army.Besides, this paper also will introduce the political, economic andlegal relations of various members. Throughout the AchaeanConfederacy organizational structure, we can see that it is a flexibleGreek federal state. Its system is not static; it can make timelyadjustments on basis of internal and external environment changes.The development of the Achaean Confederacy of Hellenistic Agealso has close relationship with its flexible foreign policy. The lastchapter will introduce the Achaean Confederacy’s diplomaticrelations from three sections. The first section introduces itsdiplomatic relations with Macedonia; the second introduces itsdiplomatic relations with Rome; the third part introduces itsdiplomatic relations with the Aeolian Confederacy. Throughout itsdiplomatic relations, we can see that the Achaean Confederacy’sforeign policy can make timely adjustments on the basis of thefundamental interests of the Confederacy.