Grainger, John D.: Making Peace in the Hellenistic World

Accounts of international relations in antiquity usually focus on wars. Yet wars have a beginning and an end, and the periods in between are times of peace. This book focuses primarily on how peace was established following conflicts. The emphasis is on the Hellenistic era, a period characterized by unique conditions under which diplomatic rules were formulated and observed for well over a century. The great powers of the Hellenistic age were predominantly absolute monarchies. Without exception, the kings were descended from the Macedonian generals who had fought in the war against the Persian Empire and subsequently proclaimed themselves kings. From 300 BC onwards, the Macedonian kings were personally acquainted with one another, which greatly facilitated the conclusion of peace treaties. From these amicable relationships, a diplomatic system evolved that functioned successfully for well over a century, preserving peace throughout the lifetimes of the rulers involved. The system collapsed due to the intervention of the Roman Republic, which did not fit into this framework. While non-Hellenistic monarchiessuch as Syracuse, Parthia, or Bactriaintegrated seamlessly into the system, the generally small republican states never managed to do so. Republican Rome ultimately intervened with its own objectives and methods, gradually dismantling the diplomatic system, even though the monarchies strove to maintain it for as long as possible. John Graingers unusual approachviewing peace processes as being just as significant as warsoffers a refreshing perspective on this era.