Solon, Lycurgus & Alexander the Great
Solon, Lycurgus & Alexander the Great
Laws and Society
Solon of Athens was an intelligent poet, orator and leader in ancient Greece, at a time when the people were divided about the form of governance and society to embrace. Solon’s motivation of reforms in the unjust society of Athens led to formulation of written laws, which took him time to draft and introduce to the society. He contributed his efforts towards justice and unfair distribution of resources among the rich and poor. Riding on justice for the rich and poor, he was elected as a legislator making a momentous contribution against tyranny and other injustices. Solon was able to strike a following among the rich as well as the poor, which would have been difficult for anyone else for his hardline position against unfair distribution of wealth. This was only possible because justice to the conflicting groups meant that they were all winners in the reforms introduced by his proposed laws. A preview of his laws shows that Solon had preference for freedom and justice for all men in an equitable society, unlike supporters of tyranny.
Lycurgus of Sparta is perhaps one of the greatest lawmaking figures in the Ancient Greece history for his firm stand on observing the law. Unlike many other lawmakers of his time, he had a deep conviction of the supremacy of the law and almost always made complete devotion to deliver. His contributions in law captured the needs of the society at the day in form of distribution of land, justice in leadership, military and social development. The tradition of Sparta as a military powerhouse had its foundations established during the times of Lycurgus. He was a strict enforcer of the guidance given by the Delphic Oracle of Apollo, who gave him assurances and encouragement of flawless implementation of social reform. While militarism and power were deeply rooted in the cultural traditions of the Spartans, Lycurgus’ contribution towards communal governance with militarism elements cannot be assumed. Equitable allocation of resources among the poor and the rich was equally followed in Sparta during the time of Lycurgus.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Solon’s contributions to the society were popular across the social divide mainly due to his strength as a popular figure among the conflicting sides of the divided Athens society. While the poor had a strong case against the rich, it was difficult for a rich person to freely be accepted pose as a mediator. Likewise, it would have been difficult for the rich to accept a poor person to represent them in social reforms. Solon however was able to defy these rejections by being at the middle of the equation, with a strong oratory and rhetoric orientation that made him strike a balance among the warring factions. Solon’s weaknesses emerged later in his lawmaking career as he was unable to deliver what the people of Athens expected from him. One instance is his inability to offer commitment to deliver his promises of debt cancellations favoring the poor as well as offer justice to land distribution issues.
Perhaps the main strength that Lycurgus can be remembered for is his undivided resolve to follow the implementation of laws in accordance with the expectations of Spartans. Building a secure Sparta was through establishment of a powerful military was a strong leadership skill that Lycurgus could only use to found a stable community. An education system securing the future of Spartan youths was also a string social reform timely in the development of the Spartan civilization. However, his reforms banning gold from Spartan economy appeared retrogressive and out of touch with the rest of the world. His laws regarding common meals gathering all men in a mess hall appeared like abuse of power.
Impact of Alexander on Hellenic Culture-contribution to Hellenistic Period
Alexander’s contribution to the spread and establishment of Hellenic culture is perhaps one of the best examples of how Greek culture was spread by use of its own agents. Alexander’s contribution to Hellenism is particularly celebrated alongside his successors’ in several respects including; founding of Greek cities which upheld the Greek democracy in administration, spreading of Greek as a conventional language in government and commerce, spreading of Greek culture by use of gymnasia (Greek schools) helping other elements of the culture to spread further such as architecture and designs. Alexander had managed to conquer many territories around the Mediterranean region to constitute an empire which was deeply founded on the Greek culture, which withstood the changes of local cultures even after conquest by the Roman Empire.
Blending Hellenic and Oriental Cultures
The version of Greek culture spread by Alexander had a dilution of the ancient Greek in certain respects but continued to be referred to as Hellenism. One of the main differences from the original version of the culture is the infusion of local cultures where the Greeks made conquests. However, Greek education was maintained in the blending of the cultures and a particular focus on arts persisted to characterize the dominance of Hellenic culture. Hellenization was the spread of Greek culture as a dominant culture when it came into contact with another culture.
Plutarch’s Analysis of Alexander’s Weaknesses
Alexander’s main weakness was his overindulgence in pleasure and drinking. While drunk, it can be expected that he made many errors of judgment bearing in mind that he had a lot of decisions to make. As an illustration, it is on record that he easily lost loyalty of those close to him, which could have made it difficult for him to rule. As a Greek, Alexander would have been forced by cultural instincts to avoid intermarriages and promote such an ideology that would favor progression of a pure Greek line. The foundation of the empire that Alexander built was based on a single man’s ideas, which is illustrated by the weakness in its struggle for survival upon his death. If the Empire was built on a firm foundation, it would be expected that it would survive the shakeups brought about by other conquests from other revolutions.
Bibliography
Bill, Thayer “The Parallel Lives: The Life of Solon,” University of Chicago, 2009. HYPERLINK “http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Solon*.html” http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Solon*.html
Gill, N. S. “Lycurgus Lawgiver of Sparta” About.com Ancient/ Classical History, 2011 HYPERLINK “http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/sparta/a/lycurgussparta.-hPn.htm” http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/sparta/a/lycurgussparta.-hPn.htm
Palmer, W. Michael, “Israel in the Hellenistic Age” History & Literature of the Bible: The Hellenistic Age, 2002 HYPERLINK “http://www.greek-language.com/bible/palmer/11hellenisticage.pdf” http://www.greek-language.com/bible/palmer/11hellenisticage.pdf
Gill, N. S. “Alexander: Plutarch’s Parallel Live- Public Domain Dryden Translation,” about .com: Ancient/ Classical History, 2011 HYPERLINK “http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_text_plutarch_alexander.htm” http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_text_plutarch_alexander.htm
