New History of the Marathas v2.c24.78

v2.c24.78

This alignment of interests was not without its tensions. The Athenian *dēmos* was often demanding, and the democratic factions in the subject states were often resentful of Athenian interference. However, the common threat of the *oligoi* and the Spartans was usually enough to keep the alliance intact. Thucydides’ analysis of this relationship is one of the most profound aspects of his work. He shows how the internal politics of the Greek city-states were inextricably linked to the external politics of the war. He demonstrates that the conflict was not just between Athens and Sparta, but also between the different political factions within the Greek world.