THE PLAGUE OF ATHENS, 429 BC “Just because you do not take an interest in politics, does not mean that politics will not take an interest in you.” Pericles, Athenian Statesman Dear Delegates, Hello, and thank you all for coming and participating in MASUN this year. For all those returning, welcome back. To those who are new, I welcome you and hope that you return next year with the same enthusiasm you bring this year. My name is Laith Al Saif (pronounced like Lay-th All Safe) and I will be your Crisis Director. I’m from Great Falls, Virginia, and I’m majoring in both Computer Game Design/Animation and Business Management. In addition, I’m also going for two minors; Integrated Design and Marketing. I play far too many video games than would be considered healthy, I run a few miles most mornings before classes and on the weekends, and I just recently began Archery. I went to Langley High School near the CIA Headquarters in McLean (it’s the high school the one in American Dad is based on), and won Virginia State championships three years in a row for Crew. I’m admittedly new to MUN despite my friends’ many attempts to have me attend regularly, and this will be my first time as Crisis Director, although not my first time on a crisis team. Should any of you need to contact me for any reason: questions, clarifications, uncertain about your seat, want to know how to string a recurve bow; do not hesitate to email me at my GMU email: [email protected]. Sincerely, Laith Al Saif Crisis Director [email protected] Hello, It’s a pleasure to welcome you all to MASUN 2020. My name is Caroline Dabre and I will be your chair for this committee. I am also the secretary for GMU’s Model UN club. I am currently a sophomore majoring in Government and International Politics. I am from Ashburn, VA and I have been doing Model UN for about 5 years now, since I was a freshman in high school. I enjoy watching a good comedy, eating good food and telling dumb jokes. I hope that all of you enjoy researching, learning and debating about the topic that we have. If you have any questions about committee, have any concerns or just want to reach out, please do not hesitate. Best Wishes, Caroline Dabre [email protected] Committee Summary The Plague of Athens is a crisis committee with some of the top political players of the height of the Hellenistic Warfare period in the Peloponnesian War between Athens, Sparta, and their respective Leagues. A brief understanding of the Peloponnesian War and the political situation of Athenai at the time is invaluable and there are a few resources below to get your toes wet. You and your fellow Archons have gathered in secret with your underlings at the Areopagus, the traditional council of Athens, the ruling body before the vaunted democractic council of the Ecclesia. Here, you will decide the fate of the famous Polis of Athenai. Position papers are not required for Crisis Committees. Computers may not be used during Committee at MASUN. Note-taking booklets will be provided to you. Standard parliamentary procedure as outlined in the delegate handbook will be followed. Junior Archons are to help their superior and will work with them on the committee. Be wary, however, as this is not to say they are without their own ambitions. It is time for the democratic experiment to end. A plague is ravaging Athens. Rule of Law has disintegrated. It is time to gather power. Introduction of Participants I. EPONYMOUS ARCHON Current holder of the office: Euthydemus He holds- as most of the archons now- no legitimate power outside of organizing festivals and gathering playwrights, aoidoi, and artisans to Athens. The previous power of the Eponymous Archon was the head of state. Still holds complete control over Athens, but only alongside the other archons. As an archon, his background is one of luxury, wealth, and high political standing. He will be doing everything in his power to attempt to regain any of the lost power of the Eponymous Archon. II. POLEMARCH ARCHON Current holder of the office: Xenostheus He holds- as most of the archons now- no legitimate political power outside of organizing festivals and gathering playwrights, aoidoi, and artisans to Athens. The previous power of the Polemarch was the complete control over the armies of Athens. Commander in Chief of the Strategoi, he held high power over military campaigns outside of Attika. He will do everything in his power to regain control of the armies from the worthless Strategoi that had replaced his office, and take control of the navies from the Navarch. III. BASILEUS ARCHON Current holder of the office: Dardenus He holds- as most of the archons now- no legitimate political power outside of organizing festivals and gathering playwrights, aoidoi, and artisans to Athens. The previous power of the Basileus was the king. Unrivaled in power to even the Eponymous Archons that would follow. Power was slowly stripped from the Basileus until they were the head of religious affairs and festivals such as Artemisia and Thesmophoria. The Eponymous Archon wishes to be king, but that title is reserved for the Dardenus, Basileus of Athens. IV. THE SIX THESMOTHETAI The Six Thesmothetai: Rhytion, Atrius, Thoas, Olenus, Cteatus, Dulichium The six Thesmothetai are law givers of Athens. High ranking judicial officers that hold real power in both the Areopagus and the Democratic Eclecia, these six men hold power to judge laws and decide what is lawful within the constitution of Athens. To both aid and hinder the Archons are at the whims of the Thesmothetai. A unanimous vote can complete block the three Archons, and the backing of the Thesmothetai can grant real power to any of the Archons that hold in their favor. These wealthy and powerful men hold power in the Eclecia, too, and can sway the votes of the Democratic offices. Figure 1. Pictured above, Peloponnesian League in red, Delian League in yellow at the onset of the war I. HISTORY The Greek world is on the brink of war. The absence of the Achaemenid Persian Empire has stretched the tensions between Athenai (Athens) and Sparta to the breaking point. Unable to compromise on which power would receive what territories, Athens and Sparta grew distant after their combined victory in repelling the invasion of Xerxes, King of Kings. While Athens wished to pursue the Persians and extend the Greek world, Sparta wished to wash their hands of the matter. Athens then formed the Delian League with many Poleis (city-states) which eventually forced their allies into becoming mere vassals under a grand Athenian Empire. They swore to continue the war with Persia until it could never pose a threat to the Poleis of Greece again. This allowed Athens to grow their Empire at an alarming rate. In response to the growing power of the Athenians, Sparta created the Peloponnesian League with the other two famous ancient cities of Korinthos (Corinth) and Thebai (Thebes). Despite the constant pressure from Corinth to declare war on the Athenians, Sparta was reluctant to go back to war so soon. During this time Athens began a monumental building project, spearheaded by Pericles himself. The famous Parthenon and Statue of Athena were built during this project, along with the Long Walls of Athens, which made any siege of the city itself effectively impossible. With Athens now a fortress, the worries of Corinth were not looking so unfounded to the Spartiate Kings. Now, with many Poleis and their ports under Athenian control, Athens began the construction of a fleet able to control all of the Aegean. Soon, this growing power would drag them into war with Corinth, and only ended when Sparta threatened to join Corinth’s side. A ‘Thirty-Year Peace’ Treaty was signed, and gave Sparta and Athens two distinct spheres of influence. Athens, with their navy, were to control the Aegean and coastal parts of Greece, while Sparta and their Hoplites were to control the Pelopponese. This ostensibly meant they could co-exist in peace, but continued rising tensions and unease of the constantly growing Athenian power threatened to tip the scales from even, to Athens. High on hubris and confident in the ability of their navy to strong-arm any Polis to kneel under their growing Empire, Athens issued the Megarian Decree. Megara, a small town firmly under Spartiate protection in the Ismuth of Corinth, the only way by land into the Pelopponese, was blockaded by the Athenian Navy. No ship was enter or leave Megara. With food and trade no longer flowing, Megara would soon be choked into submission. At the same time, Athens and Thrace were locked in political disagreement. With Thrace being a long-time ally of Sparta, they called upon them for aid before Athens blockaded them as well. The Kings of Sparta called for Athens to lift the blockades and repeal the Megarian Decree, but Pericles summarily rejected all offers. Sparta, now at risk of losing their pre-eminent position in the Peloponnesian League, was forced into action. In the Spring of 432 BC, the Spartiate King, Pleistoanax, marched into Attika, and began the Peloponnesian War. II. CURRENT EVENT Athens is at war. Unable to defeat Sparta and her allies on land, Pericles has devised a plan of retreating into the Long Walls of Athens when the Spartans arrive and harrying the troop movements with the superior Athenian Navy. This has, however, led to severe population increase inside the walls of an already overcrowded city.