Editing League of Corinth (section)

== Background ==
{{Further|Battle of Chaeronea (338 BC)#Aftermath}}
From the mid-fourth century BC, the system of city-states (''[[Polis|poleis]]'') was gradually challenged by the ideas of pan-Hellenic unity, forwarded by some writers and orators, including [[Isocrates]], who urged king Philip (in Isocrates' ''Philippus'' oration) to unify Greek powers against the Persians.<ref name=":1" /> Pan-Hellenic unity was only achieved with the rise of Macedon.{{Sfn|Harle|1998|page=24 :"The idea of the city-state was first challenged by the ideal of pan-Hellenic unity supported by some writers and orators, among which the Athenian Isocrates became a leading proponent with his Panegyrics of 380 suggesting a Greek holy war against Persia. However, only the rise of Macedonia made the realization of pan-Hellenic unity possible"}} Following his victory at the [[Battle of Chaeronea (338 BC)|Battle of Chaeronea]] (337 BC), Philip was able to impose a settlement upon southern Greece, which all states accepted, with the exception of [[Sparta]]. Philip had no intention of besieging any city, nor indeed of conquering it, but rather he wanted the southern Greeks as his allies for his planned campaign against the Persians.{{Sfn|Cawkwell|1978|page=166 :"No sieges followed. Philip intended, as events showed, to master, not to destroy, the independent cities of Greece. Destruction he was reserving for the empire of the Persians, or at any rate the western satrapies, and for that he needed the help of the Greeks"}} In the months after the battle, he moved around Greece making peace with the states that opposed him, dealing with the Spartans, and installing garrisons.{{Sfn|Cawkwell |1978|page=167}} In mid 337 BC, he seems to have camped near [[Ancient Corinth|Corinth]] and began the work to establish a league of the city-states, which would guarantee peace in Greece and provide Philip with military assistance against Persia.{{Sfn|Cawkwell|1978|page=166 :"So he set about creating a Hellenic League which would secure peace within Greece and the military aid he required"}} The principal terms of the concord were that all members became allied to each other, and to Macedon, and that all members were guaranteed freedom from attack, freedom of navigation, and freedom from interference in internal affairs.{{Sfn|Cawkwell|1978|page=171}} The council then declared war on Persia and voted Philip as ''[[strategos]]'' for the forthcoming campaign.<ref name=":4" />{{Sfn|Cawkwell|1978|page=170}}