[Xenophon] Xenophon Study Guide Questions

[Andre Stipanovic]

Hi fellow Xenophon readers,
As you read through the next section of Hellenika in anticipation of our
next conference call, here are some questions to help guide you and call
attention to particular moments in the text.  In the next week, I will be
asking some of you to take on a question that will our discussion along. 
You may respond in any way you like:  with some commentary, some questions
that still need to be answered by the group, or both.  In the meantime,
send our group an email about your reading experience.  It has been quite
interesting to read not only about the conclusion of a long drawn-out war
between Athens and Sparta, but also revealing about the post-war chaos and
power vacuum that ensues in a defeated country (Athens).  I wonder if
anyone sees any comparable historical parallels...
happy reading,
Andre


Xenophon Reading Group 2010
Books II.3.11 - III Study Guide Questions

1.  The Tyranny of the Thirty - In 404 (Book II.3.11 - 56), the tyranny of
the Thirty is called to task by one of their own, Theramenes.  Xenophon
presents two points of view from within the ranks of the Thirty: 
Kritias’ accusation and Theramenes’ defense.  Athens’ immediate
post-war administration is admittedly a scary one.  How practical are
Kritias’ arguments?  How defendable are Theramenes’ arguments,
considering what he is being accused of?  How is democracy working in
Athens at this point?  What does this regime remind us of today?

2.  Rebellion at Athens - In 403, pro-Athenian exiles led by Thrasyboulos
gather to take back Athens from the Thirty.  At Athens’ main port (the
Peiraieus) the pro-Spartan Athenians are defeated.  How do the Spartans
react to this threat to Athens?  What does the result say about the
Spartan ability to run an empire?  What does the result say about Athenian
independence?  (II.4.1 - II.4.43)

3.   Sparta vs. Persia - In 401-400 (III.1.1 - III.1.3), two very
important events introduce Book 3:  a successful invasion and withdrawal
of Greek mercenary troops into Persia (i.e. Xenophon’s Anabasis) in 401
which reveals Persia’s vulnerability and Tissaphernes’ attempt to
control Ionian (Greek) cities in Asia Minor.  This in turn triggers direct
Spartan military intervention on Persian soil in 399-397 (III.1 -
III.2.20).  How were the Spartan generals Thibron & Derkylidas able to
succeed in Asia Minor against the might of Persia?  What does Xenophon
teach us about the effectiveness of Persian satrapies and administration?

4.  Sparta vs. Elis - Sometime around 402-401 (III.2.21 -  III.2.31), the
Spartans put political pressure on their Peloponnesian neighbor to the
north, Elis.  The Spartan king Agis leads the war against Elis and
eventually achieves a victory.  Given the various reasons that Xenophon
puts forth for this conflict, what do you suppose was really the root
cause?  How does this Sparta - Elis conflict reflect Sparta’s ability to
control its Peloponnesian allies in general?  Looking at Diodorus’
account of this same event in Appendix O (14.17.4-12, 14.34.1), how do the
two accounts compare?  What does each account emphasize that the other
doesn’t?

5.  Sparta’s new king - King Agis’ death around the year 400 brings up
the question of Spartan monarchical succession soon after the Spartan-Elis
conflict.  In Book III.3.1-3, Leotychidas and Agesilaos contend for the
kingship.  What does Xenophon reveal to us about Spartan dynastic lineage
and the power of Spartan queens through this debate between Leotychidas
and Agesilaos?  (Note:  Appendix E, section 22 on pp. 357-358 briefly
comments on Xenophon’s exclusion of Spartan women in the Hellenika).   

6.  Kinadon’s conspiracy - The first event associated with Agesilaos’
early rule is Kinadon’s conspiracy (III.3.4-11).  Given the nature and
extent of this conspiracy within Sparta, what do you suppose concerns
Xenophon so much by including the account of it in this way?  What does
this conspiracy say about the state of Sparta’s internal affairs at this
time?

7.  Agesilaos invades Asia Minor - 
[recap:  After a flashback and digression into Sparta’s internal affairs
(see questions #4-6 above), Xenophon picks up the narrative of Spartan
military operations in Asia Minor (399-397) left off at III.2.20, when
Derkylidas concluded a truce concerning Ionia and its coastal Greek
city-states, with two Persian satraps, Tissaphernes (south) and
Pharnabazos (north).  This truce in 397 resulted in Derkylidas withdrawing
Spartan land troops from Persian territory in Asia Minor with the
agreement that Ionia be regarded as independent by Persia.  It is assumed
that Derkylidas was then relieved of his command.]
In the year 396 at the beginning of Book III.4, Agesilaos and Lysander
lead an expedition back to Asia Minor and Persian territory in response to
Persia’s increase of its naval forces with Phoenician ships. 
Outnumbered by both Persian land and naval forces, what is Agesilaos’
strategy in dealing with the Persian satraps Tissaphernes and Pharnabazos?
 How does Agesilaos make the best use of his own troops on the tactical
level in individual battles?  What is the significance of religion, piety,
and sacrifices on Agesilaos’ decisions?
With such detail being given by Xenophon in these chapters, do you suspect
that this information is from Xenophon’s own first-hand experience
campaigning with Agesilaos?  If so, are there any examples of historical
detail that stand out more prominently for you in these chapters than in
any others before this?
What is the ultimate goal for this Spartan military intervention on
Persian soil?  How do we know, if at all, that the Spartan mission has
been fulfilled?  What, if anything, do the Spartans get out of this
campaign in the years 396-395 (III.4.1 - III.4.29)?

8.  Greece rebels against Sparta - As Xenophon opens III.5 on p. 110, he
digresses from Agesilaos’ campaign in Asia (see question #7 above) back
to events in Greece in 395.  On orders from the Persian king, Tithraustes
had just previously eliminated Tissaphernes, a Persian satrap, and
directly intervened in negotiations with Agesilaus.  With these events
going on in Asia, Tithraustes attempts to bribe other Greek city-states to
turn against Sparta.  To some extent, Persian bribery succeeds in stirring
up some unrest among the Greeks against Sparta.  Which city-state leads
the revolt against Spartan hegemony in Greece?  Why do certain Greek
city-states decide to actively resist against Sparta?  With troops already
fighting in Asia Minor and with king Agesilaos far off, why would the
Spartans think it prudent to respond to Greek baiting and initiate a
second military campaign?
Xenophon includes some stirring rhetoric in III.5.8-15.  Given the
relations between Athens and Thebes in the Peloponnesian war, how
convincing is this speech?  How ironic is it from Xenophon’s point of
view?
Greek armies clash at Haliartos (III.5.17-24).  What is the outcome?  What
does this battle say about Spartan hegemony over other Greek city-states
in 395?  What happens to the Spartan king Pausanias in 394 (III.5.25)? 
What does king Pausanias’ banishment say about Sparta’s leadership at
this time?

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://readingodyssey.org/pipermail/xenophon2010_readingodyssey.org/attachments/20100305/3d6af5ec/attachment-0002.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Books II.3.11 - III Study Guide Questions.docx
Type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
Size: 14797 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://readingodyssey.org/pipermail/xenophon2010_readingodyssey.org/attachments/20100305/3d6af5ec/attachment.docx>