Final answer:
Alliances in the Greek world helped to defeat external threats like Persia during the Persian Wars but also led to internal conflicts as seen in the Peloponnesian War. They provided strength in unity but also created rivalries and dependencies, indicating that alliances were a double-edged sword in ancient Greece.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of alliances in the Greek world was complex and had significant impacts on Greek history. During the Persian Wars, Greek city-states like Athens and Sparta formed an alliance which proved instrumental in defeating the Persian Empire, a major external threat. This collaboration showcased the Greek strength in unity. However, the same mechanism of alliances led to the rivalry and eventual outbreak of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, highlighting how alliances could also sow the seeds for internal conflict. Athens' dominance in the Delian League and Spartas leadership in the Peloponnesian League led to increasing tensions, resulting in a devastating conflict that reshaped the Greek world. This suggests that while alliances were necessary to confront powerful adversaries, they also created dependencies and rivalries that could lead to discord. Ultimately, the role of alliances in the Greek world was a double-edged sword, offering both the strength necessary to repel external threats and the potential to drive a wedge between otherwise cooperative states.
Answering the question of whether Greece would have been better off without alliances is not straightforward. Without alliances, Greek states may not have been able to ward off the Persians during the Persian Wars. On the other hand, the lack of alliances might have prevented the large-scale internal strife seen during the Peloponnesian War. Nonetheless, given the might of external threats such as Persia, it is likely that alliances were, on balance, beneficial for the overall stability and survival of the Greek city-states, despite the internal conflicts they later engendered.