The Achaean Sympolity (389–146): The Political History

This chapter provides evidence and explanations regarding the gradual formation and development of a pan-Achaean political identity of the people of Peloponnesus. It examines the reasons that lay behind the decision of the Achaean people to move on to the next step after the city-state model, that culminated during the Classical Period (508–323 BCE) with the development of the first version of the Achaean federal state. This was not only an Achaean-Peloponnesian phenomenon but a common trend throughout the known Greek world. The chapter further shows that this primitive type of an Achaean federal state come into existence either by the end of the fifth century BCE or at the beginning of the fourth century and functioned until sometime before 280 BCE. In 280 BCE, it was re-established and developed into a remarkable example of federal organisation. Finally, the chapter provides a concise historical analysis regarding the Achaean federal state (Sympolity) up until the second century BCE. It explains the mistakes and the inconsistencies of the Achaean policymakers that finally led to the dissolution of the Achaean federal state and its conversion into a Roman province.