It is important to note that over the years of war, the Melians tried to remain neutral in the aggression between Spartans and Athenians even though that neutrality was not accepted by the Athenians who had a massive military and naval power. They tried to push the Melians into submission and possibly join the war. The struggle between Athenians and Spartans was deeply felt by small, “independent” states, such as the Melians, and were forced to take sides in the world of bipolar Greek. The Athenian generals strategically placed their powerful fleets before sending its envoys to the Melians in an effort to negotiate on a way to surrender the island. The Melians were generally afraid of the Athenians since they could easily persuade people if allowed to meet in a public forum. From their private meeting, it was agreed that if the Melians agreed and formed part of the Athenian empire, their property and people would not be interfered with.
If the Athenians had time-travel capabilities, the first key point that the Melians would have added to their argument towards the Melians is that every nation deserves to be respected in terms of remaining neutral and avoiding interference from other nations. The Melians would also argue that the Athenians had no right to attack them without provocation even if they had massive military weapons. In this regard, the Melians seemed to be peaceful and avoided confrontation with the Athenians at all cost. However, the Athenians believed in their military power and at some point forced the Melians to take part in the war. In this regard, the Melians would also tell the Athenians that the existence of nations and protection of territories is not about wedging war but rather respect for the sovereignty of every nation. The Melians were not willing to give up their freedom given that they had enjoyed it for over 700 years. The Melians believed that accepting to submit to the Athenians and thereby losing all its people and property would be the same as accepting to be slaves.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The second point that would add to the argument of the Melians to the Athenians relates to the laws and power of the nations. The Melians would remind the Athenians that respect for human rights is paramount and that invasion of another territory without provocation would compromise this very important right. It would not be right for Athenians to go ahead and destroy what they consider their common protection or interfere with their freedom of doing what they feel is right. In supporting this line of argument, the Melians reminded the Athenians that they would one day desire for the kind of freedom and protection they are advocating for. The interest of the Athenians was to push the Melians to submit faster before going through the worst level of suffering or before being destroyed completely. The Melians believed in respect and independence of nations while the Athenians believed that if they failed to molest and subjugate the Melians, it would mean that they were powerless and afraid.
The third key point that would be added to the argument of Melians to the Athenians relates to equality. Since Athenians and Melians belong to two differet territories and national entities, the Melians believe that some aspect of equity among nations should prevail. When equity among nations is upheld, justice among the citizens will automatically come into play. If the Melians had time-travel capabilities, they would advocate for territorial independence and ensure that even if they had to surrender to the Athenians, they would do it in a manner that they would not lose the freedom they have enjoyed over the years.
