Thucydides

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Thucydides

• Approx. 460-400 BC
• Author of History of the Peloponnesian War
• Elected Athenian general during the war
• Exiled for not saving Amphipolis
• Probably died before finishing his History

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History of the Peloponnesian War

• First major work of objective history
• Speculation, controversies noted as such
• No myths, magic, or hearsay as in Herodotuss
  History
• War depicted and explained, not glorified
• Human nature and society examined under stress of
  war
• Explanation in terms of causes
• Political
• Economic
• Military
• Accidental

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Background Persian Wars

• Mighty Persian Empire from India to Asia Minor
  under Darius the Great
• Greek Ionian coastal cities failed revolt 499-494
  BC
• Darius invades 490 (defeated at Marathon)
• Xerxes I invades 480
• Spartan King Leonidas and his 300 soldiers slow
  Persians at Thermopylae in heroic battle
• Persian navy defeated at Salamis 480
• Persian army defeated at Plataea 479
• Various following attacks on Persian Empire, led
  by Athens
• Peace of Callias 448 or 449

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Athens in 431 BC

• Cultural leader of Golden Age
• Wealthy, successful sea power
• Democracy, led by Pericles
• Head of Delian League since Persian Wars -
  effectively an empire now
• Controlling trade with large navy
• Subverting oligarchic neighbors
• Widespread fear of Athenian dominance

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Sparta in 431 BC

• Small, traditional oligarchy on Peloponnesus
• Society based on military values
• Strongest infantry power in Greece
• Controls large local population of Messenian
  helots (virtually slaves)
• Withdrew form Persian Wars after Persians removed
  from Greece
• Leader of voluntary Peloponnesian League
• Allies desire Spartan protection from Athens

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