2019 Year 12 IB Extended Essays

Consequently, Corcyra’s choice to directly appeal to Athens’ militaristic ideals, reflects the intentions

of Athens in interfering in this dispute. Athens had the strong belief that a war with Sparta and the

Peloponnesians was near fruition which caused the Athenians to prepare for war accordingly by

forming an alliance with Corcyra, that led to the aggravation of Corinth. Moreover, Henderson also

puts forth the idea that Athens formed an alliance with Corcyra in order to prevent Corinth from

acquiring the large navy of Corcyra. Henderson argues that an Athenian “alliance with Corcyra was

quite clearly to Corinth’s hurt. Yet the Athenians could not let one of the strongest navies in Greece,

that of Corcyra, pass by [into the hands of the Corinthians]” (2015,4,). Athens’ opportunistic

approach to the formation of an alliance with Corcyra emphasises Athens’ preparation for a war with

Sparta, which is further exemplified as the Corinthians were seen as a potential military threat.

Additionally, Irish historian and Classical Scholar Bury and British Ancient historian Meiggs argue that

Athens was also jealous of Corinth which caused the Athenian desire to weaken Corinth by forming

an alliance with Corcyra and ensuring Epidamnus remains out of Corinthians hands. Bury and Meiggs

write, that the “reply of the Corinthian ambassadors to Athens was weak. Their appeal to certain

past services of Corinth had rendered to Athens could hardly have much effect, for there was

nothing but jealousy between the two cities” (1975, 246,). Athens’ jealousy for Corinth reflects

competitive desire the Athenians felt as they wanted to become the largest power in the Greek

world. Athens’ alliance with Corcyra is evidence that Athenians would perform any action to achieve

greatness, regardless of the other powers who would be angered by such actions. Furthermore,

British historian and Classical Scholar, Cawkwell claims that Athens had the premonition that a war

with Sparta and the Peloponnesians was inevitable, which led to the Athenians disregarding Corinth

and forming a military alliance with Corcyra. Cawkwell writes, that a suitable explanation as “to why

the Athenians voted as at the end of the Corcyra debate, … [it can be inferred] that the Athenians

thought the Peloponnesian War was inevitable” (1997,21,). It is clear that the Athenians believed

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