CHAPTER IX.

Post-Alexandrian Greece.

Tumults of the Diadochi: their intricacy 168 their wide area 169

The liberation of Greece 169

Spread of monarchies 169

The three Hellenistic kingdoms 170

New problems 171

Politics abandoned by thinking men 171 except as a purely theoretical question, with some fatal exceptions 172

Dignity and courage of the philosophers 172 shown by suicide 173

Rise of despots on principle 173

Probably not wholly unpopular 174

Contemptible position of Athens and Sparta in politics, except in mischievous opposition to the new federations, whose origin was small and obscure 174

The old plan of a sovran State not successful 176

The leading cities stood aloof from this experiment 176

Athens and the Ætolians, or the Achæans 177

Sparta and the Achæans 178

A larger question 178

What right has a federation to coerce its members? 178

Disputed already in the Delian Confederacy by Athens and the lesser members 179

Duruy's attitude on this question 179

Greek sentiment very different 180

Nature of the Achæan League 180

Statement of the new difficulty 181

In its clearest form never yet settled except by force 182

Case of the American Union 182

Arguments for coercion of the several members 183

Cases of doubtful or enforced adherence 184

Various internal questions 185

Looser bond of the Ætolian League 185

Radical monarchy of Cleomenes 186