The global empire of the United States bears staggering similarities to that of the ancient Athenian empire; both rose through an influx in foreign wealth, fought long and costly wars, and lost their supremacy due to singular, devastating defeats.
Athens’s rise and fall was intertwined with the grand conflict of the Peloponnesian War. Before the war, Athens dominated Greece. Tribute, paid through monetary and naval capital by Delian League, was arbitrarily used by Athens for its own betterment. Under Pericles, Athenians built great public works, such as the Parthenon, with foreign money.
Later, the tectonic Peloponnesian War erupted between Athens and Sparta. Neither could defeat the other, so the conflict evolved into a regional, strategic struggle. Foreign campaigns, like in Sicily, eroded the strength of the Athenians. Athens was too heavily invested in these foreign conflicts.
Athens risked too much and the Peloponnesian League, Sparta and her network of Allies, punished them for it. The tipping point for the Athenian Empire was at Syracuse. Athenian generals procrastinated at the beginning of the conflict; this delay resulted in the unsuccessful siege of the city rather than a victorious strike. Spartan reinforcements had enough time to reinforce Syracuse and beat back the Athenians. Countless ships of Athens were lost in the harbor of Syracuse. Athenian morale was splintered with their strength broken. The downward spiral of Athens lasted eight painful years before they surrendered to Sparta.
America is on the downhill slide of the Athenian curve as she circles her own defeat. Historians would place the high point of the American empire at the close of World War Two. At this point, many nations adored the victorious liberators. Wealth flowed into America in exchange for manufactured products. Destruction of international economic competitions, with the bombings of Europe and the wars of East Asia, enabled this modern reincarnation of Athenian tribute. Buoyed by foreign wealth, politicians constructed highways, funded Social Security, and created Medicare. Meanwhile, the Cold War flickered into forest fire.
Forces mobilized against the United States; America’s Cold War would mirror Athens’s Peloponnesian War. Many nations sided with the USSR, and later China, in a manifold communist threat against the United States. Communist converts were afraid of being poached by America’s predatory foreign policy; the CIA coup of democracy in Iran, GI’s fought the rightful rule of Vietnam, and paratroopers invaded Grenada. This only empowered America’s enemies.
American capitalism and USSR’s communism fought long and hard, sapping global capital. China besieged the United States in Korea, freedom fighters in Afghanistan killed millions of Russians, and the Middle East burned as Israel, Egypt, and Syria warred. Ideological conflicts continue to this day in various modern forms. By 2011 America had overextended herself. Tens of thousands of troops were stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq, NATO jets controlled the airspace of Libya, and drone strikes assassinated opposition figures in Yemen.
Here the American model caught up to the Athenian timeline. The next chronological event was a major defeat of the American Empire at the hand of the Chinese. Despite having the best universities, arguably the most innovative populace, and the most capital the American economy was overtaken by the oppressive, environmentally destructive, and antagonistic Chinese economy. The Americans would be surpassed by 2020; China was declared the Sparta of the modern age. As early as 2011 the Chinese were flexing their strength, the flow of resources, such as rare metals, was halted to the United States. It would not be long until other essential elements of the globalized economy simply went missing. America’s empire unraveled, just as its star-crossed ancestor Athens did before it.
Tincup
Oct 09, 2011 @ 02:50:26
Love the post…but I fear comparing America to Ancient Greece is like comparing a child to a full grown enlightened man. America was the king amongst fools…not a king amongst kings. The downfall has come from within…sound mind and sound spirit is gone.
ChurchMountain
Oct 09, 2011 @ 10:31:33
I appreciate your response, greatly. Perhaps I am biased by my nostalgic nationalism, but I still like believe that America is, as you put, “king amongst kings,” even though that fiction ages poorly in the light of the 21st century. Regardless, the downfall certainly comes from within. My quandary is what elements of America are corrosive and can they be removed? Have you, or any commenter, have any ideas?
Tincup
Oct 09, 2011 @ 14:36:13
Lack of vision…the American Dream (house, car, big screen TV, and more things) has been funded by debt at both the individual and government level…and the financial institutions in turn made a killing sucking out all the wealth from most people. Our system…capitalist on one side (financial institutions and business) and socialist on the other (government…Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Medicare) is not sustainable…and our young aren’t receiving quality education…poor and ignorant base of population continues to grow as we can’t afford to break the cycle of poverty…
ChurchMountain
Oct 10, 2011 @ 23:38:05
I see your strong points, they all black clouds obscuring a hopeful future for America.
So perhaps a new vision then, a revolution in education and in culture will save America. The tools are there; despite our consumerist attitudes (which are painfully evident) i believe that a new sustainable balance will be found. We only have to try and refuse to give into pessimism.
Debt is an issue, no questions about that. This massive issue has a simple answer of making harsh decisions; raise taxes or cut spending. In addition, I served in the in the penitentiaries they call “public education,” just as I am sure you have suffered. You are painfully correct in saying the system is broken, no questions about that. No Child Left Behind forgot the children.The cycle of poverty is getting worse and Americans are poorer than the last generation. These issues have no easy solutions. Just tough choices.
In these dark times their is hope, in fact with each day my hope in the American Experiment grows. Why? The Occupy Wall Street Movement.
People are tired of these exact issues that you are talking about; but rather then taking it the masses are finally mobilizing for reform. We are going to have a historic year ahead of us, but we will have change. In America everyone has a vote, so the 99% will break through the political and economic gridlock.
Already solutions are emerging, America’s conflicting attitudes between capitalist economy and socialist government could be perceived as a schism, however might we be able to use one to fund the other. People will never stop spending, but perhaps with the Occupy Wall Street movement gaining traction we can get a system of taxes that will insure that everyone will have some new evolution of Medicare and a streamlined government.
It is darkest before the dawn, but light of day will only be more glorious. There is hope, we only need to believe and act with the moral majority.
[I guess I’m sorta a cup-half-full sort of person.]
Tincup
Oct 11, 2011 @ 16:38:54
LOL…believe it or not I am a critic but a dreamer and believe in the human being and what we can achieve…I just don’t see it happening with my eyes…only in my imagination.
ChurchMountain
Oct 11, 2011 @ 19:06:46
But I do see it with my eyes, the spirits of the downtrodden are still filled with life and innovation. The Human Spirit can never be broken, even through these decentralized struggles the moral majority will be victorious. In the long run they always are.
Edmund Burke said “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” You and I are speaking and conspiring for the sake of humanity, just as millions plot a new course for the human race around the world. Our imagination will become the reality, just as long as we keep talking.
Tincup
Oct 11, 2011 @ 19:29:17
I would love to join with men and women to make something of significance happen…would be willing to pick up a sword…I think a financial meltdown may be on the horizon…China has begun pumping money into their struggling banks…you know what is occuring in Europe…and we can barely keep our heads above the citizen and government debt…if I am correct…the Occupy Wall Street movement will become very large and understood by those who currently turn the other cheak:)
ChurchMountain
Oct 11, 2011 @ 19:36:44
Amen to that. That day is coming, it will build like a storm and purge the world like a hurricane. They will be rough times, but they will be glorious during and after. Everyday the Occupiers gain strength. Perhaps a day, a week, a month; eventually they will have victory. I intend to help 🙂