Dolan
Banned
The Greco-Persian Wars were a series of conflicts between Persian Empire and The Greek City-States that formed the background of the formation of what is recognizable as the first long-lasting confederation between the Greek City-States, that later on, become de facto inspiration for many modern confederations, and many said as the first precursor of what we called as a modern concept of nation-state.
The Greek City-States before the formation of Hellenic League (Koinon Hellenon) was a collection of extremely diverse City-States, with various systems of local government and tradition. From the Militaristic Sparta that ruled over Helot slaves, Democratic Athens who excel in Naval Trade and Warfare, Thebes, Pherae, to the newly liberated Ionian City-States who previously ruled by Persian Overlords. Their shared experience and camaraderie during the War compels them to join their forces, keeping and adapting benefits of strong practices while discarding the weak or abhorrent traditions in order to facilitate unity between City-States as a whole.
It was said that this was started as a compromise between Sparta, Athens, and other city-states. Sparta has the best, most disciplined Land Army, but they are supported by enslaved helots that caused moral objections from other city-states as they were fellow Greeks. After a heated discussion, The Spartan King Leonidas agreed to freed their Helot slaves (slavery of fellow Greeks being forbidden from that point on) and providing Spartan training to other city-states in return of having the other city-states supporting the League Army (with Spartan Army as their professional core). The Athenians agreed to provide the similarly professional backbone for the Navy in return of having the other city-states supporting the League Navy. The Thessalians agreed to provide the Cavalry Arm and their fast, horseback expertise in return of similar gains, and other city-states quickly followed suit, supporting the league with their strength (mostly food and money, initially), while the others will help to cover their weakness.
The power divisions between member city-states were determined by a system of 'electoral college', in which each member are allowed to sent certain numbers of representative to the Ceremonial Capital, Delphi, according to their relative contributions to the League. The representatives then decided the matter of war, laws, and economy by a somewhat democratic voting process, and their formations being enshrined in the Constitution.
The combination of Spartan Land Army, Thessalian Cavalry, and Athenian Navy proved to be a very potent combination against the Persian Empire's grasp in Greek-dominated Asia Minor. The Persians are thus finally driven off out of Asia Minor, with Trebizond and Issues being made into Fortress cities dedicated to guarding the Greeks against further Easterling incursions. The League also expanded diplomatically to the Western Greek City-States, with Megale Hellas and Syrakousai, even across the ocean with Kyrenia and even Massalia being peacefully incorporated as they did see the benefits of joining forces and having a common, free trade area between them.
The First Hellenic League actually endured, and provide long-lasting peace between the Hellenes for more than 150 years, before civil war broke due to the Ambition of the now infamous Alexander of Macedon. But even then, the Macedonian usurpation was finally defeated and the League reformed into the Second Hellenic League, which returning the Democratic process and making important fail-safes against the other possibilities of Tyrants trying to usurp the force from within.
...
Let's say that in this scenario, the cooperation between Greek City-States happened in a less interlinked way, to the point that the alternate Hellenic League either never formed or being a temporary coalition that ends up being disbanded after Persians was driven off from Greek Lands.
What will happen next? Could the Greeks actually survive without forming the League in the first place?
The Greek City-States before the formation of Hellenic League (Koinon Hellenon) was a collection of extremely diverse City-States, with various systems of local government and tradition. From the Militaristic Sparta that ruled over Helot slaves, Democratic Athens who excel in Naval Trade and Warfare, Thebes, Pherae, to the newly liberated Ionian City-States who previously ruled by Persian Overlords. Their shared experience and camaraderie during the War compels them to join their forces, keeping and adapting benefits of strong practices while discarding the weak or abhorrent traditions in order to facilitate unity between City-States as a whole.
It was said that this was started as a compromise between Sparta, Athens, and other city-states. Sparta has the best, most disciplined Land Army, but they are supported by enslaved helots that caused moral objections from other city-states as they were fellow Greeks. After a heated discussion, The Spartan King Leonidas agreed to freed their Helot slaves (slavery of fellow Greeks being forbidden from that point on) and providing Spartan training to other city-states in return of having the other city-states supporting the League Army (with Spartan Army as their professional core). The Athenians agreed to provide the similarly professional backbone for the Navy in return of having the other city-states supporting the League Navy. The Thessalians agreed to provide the Cavalry Arm and their fast, horseback expertise in return of similar gains, and other city-states quickly followed suit, supporting the league with their strength (mostly food and money, initially), while the others will help to cover their weakness.
The power divisions between member city-states were determined by a system of 'electoral college', in which each member are allowed to sent certain numbers of representative to the Ceremonial Capital, Delphi, according to their relative contributions to the League. The representatives then decided the matter of war, laws, and economy by a somewhat democratic voting process, and their formations being enshrined in the Constitution.
The combination of Spartan Land Army, Thessalian Cavalry, and Athenian Navy proved to be a very potent combination against the Persian Empire's grasp in Greek-dominated Asia Minor. The Persians are thus finally driven off out of Asia Minor, with Trebizond and Issues being made into Fortress cities dedicated to guarding the Greeks against further Easterling incursions. The League also expanded diplomatically to the Western Greek City-States, with Megale Hellas and Syrakousai, even across the ocean with Kyrenia and even Massalia being peacefully incorporated as they did see the benefits of joining forces and having a common, free trade area between them.
The First Hellenic League actually endured, and provide long-lasting peace between the Hellenes for more than 150 years, before civil war broke due to the Ambition of the now infamous Alexander of Macedon. But even then, the Macedonian usurpation was finally defeated and the League reformed into the Second Hellenic League, which returning the Democratic process and making important fail-safes against the other possibilities of Tyrants trying to usurp the force from within.
...
Let's say that in this scenario, the cooperation between Greek City-States happened in a less interlinked way, to the point that the alternate Hellenic League either never formed or being a temporary coalition that ends up being disbanded after Persians was driven off from Greek Lands.
What will happen next? Could the Greeks actually survive without forming the League in the first place?