Freedom of the Greeks in the early Hellenistic period (337-262 BC) : a study in ruler-city relations
This thesis treats of the use and meaning of the Greek concept of eleutheria (freedom) and the cognate term autonomia (autonomy) in the early Hellenistic Period (c.337-262 BC) with a specific focus on the role these concepts played in the creation and formalisation of a working relationship between city and king. It consists of six chapters divided equally into three parts with each part exploring one of the three major research questions of this thesis. Part One, Narratives, treats of the continuities and changes within the use and understanding of eleutheria and autonomia from the 5th to the 3rd centuries. Part Two, Analysis, focuses on the use in action of both terms and the role they played in structuring and defining the relationship between city and king. Part Three, Themes, explores the importance of commemoration and memorialisation within the early Hellenistic city, particularly the connection of eleutheria with democratic ideology and the afterlife of the Persian Wars. Underpinning each of these three sections is the argument that eleutheria played numerous, diverse roles within the relationship between city and king. In particular, emphasis is continually placed variously on its lack of definition,
Wallace, Shane Christopher
eleutheria ; freedom ; autonomy ; Hellenistic Period ; Persian Wars ; democracy
Freedom of the Greeks in the early Hellenistic period (337-262 BC) : a study in ruler-city relations. This thesis treats of the use and meaning of the Greek concept of eleutheria (freedom) and the cognate term autonomia (autonomy) in the early Hellenistic Period (c.337-262 BC) with a specific focus on the role these concepts played in the creation and formalisation of a working relationship between city and king. It consists of six chapters divided equally into three parts with each part exploring one of the three major research questions of this thesis. Part One, Narratives, treats of the continuities and changes within the use and understanding of eleutheria and autonomia from the 5th to the 3rd centuries. Part Two, Analysis, focuses on the use in action of both terms and the role they played in structuring and defining the relationship between city and king. Part Three, Themes, explores the importance of commemoration and memorialisation within the early Hellenistic city, particularly the connection of eleutheria with democratic ideology and the afterlife of the Persian Wars. Underpinning each of these three sections is the argument that eleutheria played numerous, diverse roles within the relationship between city and king. In particular, emphasis is continually placed variously on its lack of definition,
freedom greeks early hellenistic_period study ruler city relation treat use mean greek concept freedom cognate term autonomy early_hellenistic period specific_focus role concept play creation formalisation work relationship_city king consists divide equally three_part part_explore three_major question thesis part_one narratives treat continuity_change within use part_two analysis focus use action term role_play structure define relationship_city king part_three themes explore importance commemoration memorialisation within early_hellenistic city particularly connection democratic ideology afterlife persian_wars underpinning three_section argument play numerous diverse role_within relationship_city king particular_emphasis continually place variously lack definition