College Honors Program

Date of Creation

5-18-2022

Document Type

Campus Access Only

First Advisor

Thomas Martin

Abstract

The attacks of January 6, 2021 on the US Capitol are still largely present in national discourse. Discussions surrounding the nature of the incident are rife with divided opinions. Some have labeled it as treasonous insurrection, while others have fixed it among the highest forms of patriotism. Despite the political ideologies and coercion that clearly undergirded the attacks, the division in opinion is still striking. It calls into question the definition of ‘patriotism’, and how Americans view it today.

A look to history helps to begin to answer such answers. Ancient Greek texts offer glances into the words, motives, and decisions of prominent political and military figures. These figures, oftentimes, shape how the modern world views ancient Athens. In crucial moments in Athenian history, such as the voting assembly’s decision to invade Sicily during the Peloponnesian War, the chosen leaders of the expedition, Alcibiades and Nicias, had an authority that shaped the final verdict. The debates surrounding this decision provide details of fifth-century BCE Athenian patriotism and how these leaders harnessed it to influence the assembly’s vote.

Through this newly informed lens, it is possible to view an event like the January 6 attacks differently. It becomes clear that people of ancient Athens thought about and struggled with many of the same issues that are relevant in the modern world.

Comments

Reader: Peter Fritz

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