ABSTRACT
The Athenian's stress on freedom of speech and on political gentleness in their own city should show immediately that any general assimilation of Athens to the former Soviet Union would be profoundly inappropriate. Nowadays, with the Soviet analogy fading in its influence, another opinion derived from the modern politics is likely to distort perceptions of the Athenian Empire, especially among the younger students. The main evidence on the contemporary standing of the Athenian Empire comes from Thucydides. His account contains much generalisation and detail, posing intricate problems, some of which relate to his own position as moralist. Within the Athenian Empire, patterns of loyalty to, or revolt from, Athens corresponded to some extent with the fluctuating military fortunes of the Athenians. The appearance of a Spartan army, led by Brasidas, in the Thraceward area in 424 led to a series of local revolts from Athens.
