The history of the peloponnesian war, by thucydides 431 bc. The history of the peloponnesian war the internet classics. Nov 30, 2016 thucydides history of the peloponnesian war is a book that all who seek to understand the influence of war must read. The history of the peloponnesian war, also known as histories, recounts the war between the athenian alliance called the delian league by modern historians and sparta and its allies called the peloponnesian league by modern historians, which took place from 431404 bc. Harold north fowler, commentary on thucydides book 5, character and duration of the time of peace between the first and second war. History of the peloponnesian war thucydides, richard. Some of the chronological inconsistencies have been the cause of controversy among scholars for centuries. Feb 03, 20 winter thus ended, and with it the eighteenth year of this war of which thucydides is the historian.
Translated by rex warner with an introduction and notes by m. Chapter i the state of greece from the earliest times to the commencement of the peloponnesian war thucydides, an athenian, wrote the history of the war between the peloponnesians and the athenians, beginning at the moment that it broke out, and believing that it would be a great war and more worthy of relation than any that had preceded it. Ten years into the struggle, the athenian general thucydides was dismissed for a military failure that led to a triumph for posterity. Earl61y in the spring of the summer following, dercyllidas, a spartan, was sent with a small force by land to the hellespont to effect the revolt of abydos, which is a milesian colony. Debate at sparta and declaration of war spartan king archidamus. Thucydides and the peloponnesian war by george cawkwell. The war marks a turning point in ancient greek history as the golden age of. The history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides free. Dec 01, 2004 the history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides.
Historical context for history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides. Thucydides and the peloponnesian war ebook written by george cawkwell. Dec 31, 2000 thucydides was born probably about 460bc. Buy the history of the peloponnesian war classics revised by thucydides, m. History of the peloponnesian war summary and study guide. Best translation of the history of the peloponnesian war. Some situate thucydides work within the context of contemporary political debates about the responsibility for the war, debates that were quite animated during and after the peloponnesian war. It was a war that i knew little about, but would feel comfortable using as a metaphor for wars of long ago, even though some of the participants of those wars were still living. The history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides. Understanding the history of athens in the all important years of the second half of the fifth century b. Librivox recording of the history of the peloponnesian war, by thucydides. Thucydides called his account of two decades of war between athens and sparta a possession for all time, and indeed it is the first and still the most famous work in the western historical tradition. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read thucydides and the peloponnesian war.
The peloponnesian war was a conflict between athens and spartathe two. The history of the peloponnesian war almost acts as a historical counterweight and literary jumping off point for more deeply appreciating the homeric poems. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war, book iv, chapter 40. Morris, commentary on thucydides book 1, introduction. The war we today call peloponnesian what historians sometimes call the second peloponnesian war this, the subject of thucydides life work and the defining event of his life was a 27year conflict between the two preeminent citystates of ancient greece. Read by librivox volunteers the history of the peloponnesian war is an account of the peloponnesian war in ancient greece, fought between the peloponnesian league led by sparta and the delian league led by athens in the 5th century bc. Thucydides undoubtedly heard some of these speeches himself. At the start of book six thucydides says the expedition was a doomed product of the foolish greed of the athenian demos, egged on by alcibiades. An invaluable work that is, of course, still studied today in. And so ended the second year in the peloponnesian war of which thucydides wrote the history. His history of the peloponnesian war recounts the fifthcentury bc war between sparta and athens until the year 411 bc. Thucydides history of the peloponnesian war is an account of the war fought between the peloponnesian league sparta and its allies and the delian league athens and its.
This book challenges that received wisdom, advancing original and controversial views of thucydides account of the peloponnesian war. In the following summer the peloponnesians and their allies under the command of archidamus 142 the son of zeuxidamus, the lacedaemonian king, instead of invading 143 attica, made an expedition against plataea. History of the peloponnesian war 9780140440393 by thucydides and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. And the winter ended, and with it ended also the nineteenth year of this war of which thucydides is the historian. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war, volume i.
This book challenges that received wisdom, advancing original and controversial views of thucydides account of the peloponnesian understanding the history of athens in the all important years of the second half of the fifth century b. The leagues were led by sparta and athens respectively. He does talk about politics in his book as someone who clearly has. This is something that ive been trying to find answer to for a while now. During his exile, he began compiling histories and accounts of the war from various participants. The entire greek world plunged into three decades of bloodshed in 431 b. It contains the first three books of the history, covering the causes of the war which began in 431 b. Thucydides narrative covers the first 20 years of the conflict, which came to a final. Thucydidess most popular book is history of the peloponnesian war. Revisiting thucydides explanation of the peloponnesian war. The state of greece from the earliest times to the commencement of the peloponnesian war. Thucydides called his account of two decades of war between athens and sparta a. Jul 06, 2017 the war we today call peloponnesian what historians sometimes call the second peloponnesian war this, the subject of thucydides life work and the defining event of his life was a 27year conflict between the two preeminent citystates of ancient greece. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Thucydides has been dubbed the father of scientific history due to his strict standards of evidence. That narrative is very much a personal history with honor and reputations at stake, and it was crafted without. Written in the 5th century bc, the events of the war between the peloponnesian and delian leagues are detailed by thucydides. Thucydides, an athenian, wrote the history of the wa. A fragment of the fourth book of the history of the peloponnesian war. I think his statements reveal both professional and personal motivations. However, thucydides history was never finished, and as such, ends midsentence in the winter of 411 bce.
The syracusans contrived this chiefly because they saw. Jul 18, 2018 written in the 5th century bc, the events of the war between the peloponnesian and delian leagues are detailed by thucydides. It is an amazing and well written factual history that adds another dimension to the fictional literature of ancient greece. He took a small part in the peloponnesian war when it broke out in 431bc. Thucydides and the peloponnesian war 9780415165525. Thucydides history of the peloponnesian war is an account of the war fought between the peloponnesian league sparta and its allies and the delian league athens and its allies from 431404 bce. Like any historian, he explains, thucydides had to create a framework for the war and had to select facts, weigh sources, and arrange a narrative. Buy history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides isbn. Thucydides book 1 summary the peloponnesian war an. Chapter five deals with thucydides two judgments on alcibiades and the sicilian expedition. It was written by thucydides, an athenian historian who also served as an athenian general during. Jan 01, 2004 one of the worlds great history books and the first true historical narrative of western literature, thucydides chronicle of the disastrous 27year conflict between athens and sparta resonates with tales of heroism and villainy, deeds of courage and desperation, and the eternal folly of human conflict.
Chapter i the state of greece from the earliest times to the commencement of the peloponnesian war. One of the worlds great history books and the first true historical narrative of western literature, thucydides chronicle of the disastrous 27year conflict between athens and sparta resonates with tales of heroism and villainy, deeds of courage and desperation, and the eternal folly of human conflict. Chapter xii seventh year of the war occupation of pylos surrender of the spartan army in sphacteria next summer, about the time of the corns coming into ear, ten syracusan and as many locrian vessels sailed to messina, in sicily, and occupied the town upon the invitation of the inhabitants. This study guide consists of approximately 49 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of history of the peloponnesian war. Not another paraphrase of thucydides, tritles sensitive new history of the great war between athens and sparta marshals the literary. History of the peloponnesian warbook 7 wikisource, the. Thus the winter ended, and with it ended the seventh year of this war of which thucydides is the historian.
The peloponnesian war commenced a half century after the battle of salamis. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war, book iv. Of the speeches, the most famous is the funeral oration of pericles, which is found in book two. Commencement of the peloponnesian war thucydides, an athenian, wrote the history of the war between the peloponnesians and the athenians, beginning at the moment that it broke out, and believing that it would be a great war and more worthy of relation than any that had preceded it. He saw the rise of athens to greatness under the inspired leadership of pericles. The war marks a turning point in ancient greek history as the golden age of greek dominance is changed in the region. History of the peloponnesian war by thucydides books on. In first days of the next summer there was an eclipse of the sun at the time of new moon, and in the early part of the same month an earthquake. It was written by thucydides, an athenian general who served in the war.
Winter thus ended, and with it the eighteenth year of this war of which thucydides is the historian. The history was divided into separate books by later scholars, but is now, in its. So, a common narrative about the ww2 eastern front goes like this. The peoloponnesian war is the only surviving source for much of the period that he describes. His great contribution to history and historiography is contained in this one dense history of the 27year war between athens and sparta, each alongside their respective allies. Causes of the war epidamnus 435 bc, corcyra 433 bc, potidaea 432 bc 6688. Thomas arnold 17951842 published volume 1 of his edition of thucydides history of the peloponnesian war in 1830. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war, book ii.
We can only examine what thucydides himself tells us in his history. Rex warner was a professor of the university of connecticut from 1964 until his retirement in he was born in 1905 and went to wadham college, oxford. Thucydides has been dubbed the father of scientific history by those who accept his claims to. Thucydides intended his work to be a possession for all time, and through reading the peloponnesian war we come to realise the complexities of modern life have not rendered everything experienced by past generations irrelevant to the problems of today. Aug 27, 2019 and this winter ended, and with it ended the twentieth year of this war of which thucydides is the historian. Books by thucydides author of history of the peloponnesian war. The history of the peloponnesian war is an account of the peloponnesian war in ancient greece, fought between the peloponnesian league led by sparta and the delian league led by athens in the 5th century bc. History of the peloponnesian warbook 8 wikisource, the.
After his death, thucydidess history was subdivided into eight books. Thucydides, an athenian, wrote the history of the war between the peloponnesians and the athenians, beginning at the moment that it broke out, and believing that it would be a great war and more worthy of relation than any that had preceded it. The plague and the peloponnesian war war on the rocks. In 430, the second year of the peloponnesian war, he caught and survived the horrible plague which he described so graphically. Thucydides, an athenian, wrote the history of the war between the peloponnesians and the athenians, beginning at the moment that it broke out, and believing that it would be a great war, and more worthy of relation than any that had preceded it. Considered essential reading for generals, statesmen, and liberally educated citizens for more than 2,000 years. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read history of the peloponnesian war.
One of the greatest ancient historians, thucydides c. Thucydides has 384 books on goodreads with 73927 ratings. It tells the tale of great power conflict between the greek city states of athens and sparta in a war that would last almost 30 years. History of the peloponnesian war ebook written by thucydides. Donald kagan, one of the world s most respected classical, political, and military historians, here presents a new account of this vicious war of greek against greek, athenian against spartan. The peloponnesian war is a big conflict, or at least its the big conflict if. Thucydides of athens, one of the greatest of historians, was born about 471 bce. A new history of the peloponnesian war 9781405122511.