Mytilenian+Debate

Mytilenian Debate-- Recounted by Thucydides, the Mytilenian debate occured during the Peloponnesian wars. The small city-state of Mytilene had rebelled against Athens, and as a result Athens had decided to kill and enslave them all. The next day, guilt set in and the dillema to kill or not kill began. Cleon argued to maintain the decision and that the Mytileans deserve this punishment and will serve as an example to any other traitorous-minded groups. Diodotus argue that the decision had been made to hastily and may not have the best interest of the Athenians in mind. He argued that perhaps the massacre would only cause more revolt, not less. In the end Diodotus won, Mytilenians were spared.

The Mytilenian Debate is among the first instances in recorded history of an imperial power considering the morality of its empire. Historians disagree over whether this is the first time such self-reflection happened, or whether it is the first time it was written down, but either way it is significant. Does morality matter in the context of empire, or do the strong have the right to do whatever they can?