Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Ιστορία της Ελληνικής και Ρωμαϊκής ΑρχαιότηταςLibrary of the School of Philosophy
Author:
Kochylas Emmanouil
Supervisors info:
Ψωμά Σελήνη, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια Αρχαίας Ιστορίας, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Ανεζίρη Σοφία, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια Αρχαίας Ιστορίας, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Μπουραζέλης Κωνσταντίνος, Καθηγητής Αρχαίας Ιστορίας, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Διαφωνίες και τρόποι επίλυσης για εξαρτημένα εδάφη στην αντίπερα ακτή (περαία). Τα παραδείγματα από Σαμοθράκη, Μυτιλήνη και Σάμο μεταξύ 5ου και 2ου αι. π.Χ.
Translated title:
Disagreements and manners of settlement for dependence lands on the other side of the sea (peraia). The examples from Samothrace, Mytilene and Samos between 5th-2nd century B.C.».
Summary:
The formation of city-states in the Archaic period composes key point in ancient history. This new type of political organization locate it mainly in coastal and island regions. From the late of 8th and the beginning of 7th century B.C. the proximity of many islands with the opposite coastline led in the creation of permanent appointments on those areas. The frequent way of describing this occupation and possession parts of the mainland from the island city-state across the sea was by the term «peraia» and rarely used words «epeiron» and «aigialos». Examples of maintenance peraia locate mainly in islands in Aegean and less in Ionian sea.
Theme of this essay is whether the peraia were field of controversy and disagreement with adjacent to peraia political entities. The first thought that, generally, islands city-states didn’t suffer border changes within the island country created the question if something similar had effect also in theirs peraia. From the beginning of this essay many elements emerged for continuous disputes with the main source of information comes from inscriptions and secondarily from literary texts. Due to the plethora of evidence in this essay are examining historical examples from Samothrace, Mytilene and Samos in period between 5th – 2nd century B.C.
The economic exploitation of peraia was the main reason for the start of each dispute. The most common way of settling those territorial conflicts was arbitration by a third not directly involved political entity. The arbiter was interfering either upon assignment or act of one’s own accord. The arbitration phenomenon developed particularly during Hellenistic period, while a very important issue is who but above all why they assume to be arbitrators. However, differences between city-states were also possibly to be solved by war. As shown by the survey this manner was more common during the Archaic and Classical period.
. The extension of an island city-state in the opposite mainland was causing throughout ancient times envy and rivalry from neighboring to peraia city-states. To strengthen their position the islanders were trying to extend their links with the mainland territories, mainly through religion. In conclusion, despite frequent territorial changes, islands city-states never quit from their desire for maintaining mainland possessions. Is not an exaggeration that the peraia as a political appearance is a creation of city-states which survived as long as the institution who gave birth to it.
Main subject category:
History
Keywords:
History, Peraia, City-states, War, Arbitration
Number of references:
365
