In the ancient world, each city state would fight against another EG: Sparta and Athens...Why would these Hellenes fight eachother yet ally with eachother against foreign enemies? Were they trying to expant their territories? Were they trying to prove who was better? Or was life in the Ancient times so boring that the only entertainment in the absence of Playstation was war?

Very simple answer!

The first answer is PRIDE! Just look at the Greeks of today in Greece and in the diaspora. There is still competition.

Next, we have arable land(land that can be used to grow crops). Since there is so little of it there is great competition to control it in order to survive.

3rd, we have differing Political Systems. One group thought there system was better that the other. We have Athenian Democracy versus Spartan Oligarchy, etc, etc.

4th, we have trade! Who was going to control the trade routes. If you wanted to survive and thrive in trade then you must have FREE flow of products through neighboring lands. So what would be the best way to control those routes? Either through giving up a lot of your trade goods or money in order to ensure those trade routes or CONQUER AND CONTROL THEM YOURSELF. This second way was much easier and much more profitable. You don't have to pay a toll to use the routes and you gain taxes from the controlled region.

5th, plain old SURVIVAL!

The list goes on and on,

But I believe the most important ones are PRIDE!! and SURVIVAL!

"yet ally with each other against foreign enemies?"

To answer that last part.

It is like siblings. A brother or sister can insult each other all they want(because there family), but the moment some outsider says something bad towards one of the siblings then they will have hell to pay!

The Greeks are all brothers and sisters(all from common ancestry) while the invaders(Persians) are not related and invaders.


Of course the Greeks didn't always unite against an outside invader. There were certain northern Greek groups who allowed the Persians to pass through their lands untouched. But this doesn't necessarily mean that they were traitors, instead it was just a matter of SURVIVAL.

If you need some more specific examples I will be glad to post them!

very well said Brasidas. they are the main reasons why. i always understood it with your brother and sister example.

Nice explanation Brasidas. I think the main reason was pride. Weather it be a battle to see who's poltical system was superior, or who had a better army, or who supported Olympiakos over PAO...the list is endles. But each territory wanted to be the one recognised as the supreme city state of Hellas. For a long time that title was Sparta's but after the revolt of the helots Sparta was never the same again.

Well it is like this. Many people have had the opportunity to rule this planet and this is how it is summed up. The Irish would have ruled the world, but God gave them whiskey. The Scots would have ruled the world, but God gave them the English. Greeks would most certainly have ruled the world but God gave them each other.

How true, how true!

Nicely written Brasidas

Any race divided into many different states can only be untied one way: Force. Thats where Alexander came in and thats when you can see what Greeks accomplish when they are united

Not just by states....Politics, Sports Teams, General point of View. If there is anything separating Greeks into opposing sides, we will kill eachother....We must be united in EVERYTHING. But in the world of today, this is not possible.

Its funny really....

i remember listening to one of my elder friends who was talking about Alexander the Great....

Alexander before starting on his mission into asia approached the Spartans to join in his expedition...


the Spartans refused but Alexander wasnt disappointed...

the reason:

If the Spartans left Greece who would be in Greece to protect it...he knew if they would remain behind Greece would have been safe..

Also...i think he had Western Europe lined up for the Spartans once he got back from Africa...but he never got that far as we know....

we are not united because we like to be different, that is just the greek way.... we unite when in need - our main belief is also freedom or death. this is what keeps us together... and also apart - again its just the greek way live with it

I'm actually really proud of Greece for all the rich history that it has left for us to read and learn about, the good and the bad.
Makes me proud to be part of such a great nation. To have Greek blood running through me.

Topic moved