Why were the greek city states open to an attack by Philip II of Macedonia?
Phillip II formed a professional army, the Greeks had volunteers. The Greeks were disorganized after the Peloponnese War, the city-states were fiercely competitive, and did not cooperate and help each other. Phillip simply marched over them state by state.
Why were the Greek city-states open to an attack by Philip I of of Macedonia?
The Greek city-states were open to an attack by Philip II of Macedonia due to several reasons. To understand why, we need to examine the historical context and the specific circumstances of that time.
1. Political Fragmentation: At the time, Greece was not a unified country but rather a collection of independent city-states. These city-states, such as Athens and Sparta, often competed with each other and had frequent internal conflicts. This political fragmentation weakened the overall defense of Greece because city-states were focused on their own agendas rather than collaborating against external threats.
2. Exhaustion from Peloponnesian War: Prior to Philip's rise, Greece experienced a long and devastating war known as the Peloponnesian War. The war lasted from 431 to 404 BCE and was fought between Athens and Sparta, along with their respective allies. The conflict greatly weakened the city-states, both economically and militarily. It left Greece in a vulnerable state, making it susceptible to external invasions.
3. Military Reforms of Philip II: Philip II, the king of Macedonia and father of Alexander the Great, implemented significant military reforms. He introduced a well-trained and disciplined army, known as the Macedonian phalanx, which consisted of heavily armed infantry soldiers organized in a tight formation. The city-states of Greece, on the other hand, lacked such a cohesive and professional military force, making them less prepared to face the Macedonian army on the battlefield.
4. Diplomatic Maneuvers: Philip II employed skillful diplomatic strategies to weaken Greece further. He exploited existing rivalries between city-states, bribed or negotiated alliances with some, and manipulated their internal politics. By playing various factions against each other, Philip was able to divide and weaken the Greek city-states, thereby facilitating his eventual attack.
In summary, the Greek city-states were vulnerable to an attack by Philip II of Macedonia due to their political fragmentation, exhaustion from previous conflicts, lack of a unified military, and Philip's shrewd diplomatic maneuvers.