arhivele olteniei 24 - Institutul de Cercetari Socio-Umane "CS ...

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Cezar Avram, Roxana Radu
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GREEK DIPLOMATIC SCHOOL
(Abstract)
The ancient Greeks were engaged in intense diplomatic activity, which has
supplanted, to a large extent, their ability to defend their state and maintained, for a
while, peace in the ancient world, which was in the process of decline. The first mention
of the existence of this fundamental state activity we encounter in Homer’s „Iliad”,
which gives us information about how the consuls („proxenos”) were appointed and
about their work. This article deals also with the ambassadors institution in ancient
Greece, diplomatic immunities, the rules for declaring war and concluding peace, the
wars between Sparta and Athens, the formation of coalitions and alliances between
Greek cities, the creation of federations, the role of priests in the formation of political
alliances and diplomatic negotiations etc. Greek diplomacy also showed negative traits,
such as lack of cohesion and unity of the cities, the continuous competition between
different confederations („symmahia”), factors that made them vulnerable in front of the
Persians, Macedonians and Romans.
Keywords: alliance, ambassador, consul, diplomacy, negociation.