The landmark thucydides is a modern translation of the history of the peloponnesian war, written in the fifth century bce to document the war between athens and sparta. The history of the peloponnesian war, by thucydides 431 bc. Peloponnesian invasion of attica 428 bce 26 revolt of mytilene athenian expedition to lesbos 7 athenian expedition to acarnania. Thucydides history of the peloponnesian war is one of the great books in the western tradition, as well as its first true historical narrative. Considered essential reading for generals, statesmen, and liberally educated citizens for more than 2,000 years. And the winter ended, and with it ended the sixteenth year of this war of which thucydides is the historian. A comprehensive guide to the peloponnesian war by thucydides books read and share 3600 bc 500 ad. One of the greatest ancient historians, thucydides c. 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. Thucydides blamed the outbreak of the war and the unnecessary prolongation to athens democratic system. Language english greek, ancient to 1453 translated from uniform title history of the peloponnesian war english 1996 isbn 0684828154 description xxxiii, 711 p. Feb 03, 20 history of the peloponnesian war book 6.
The state of greece from the earliest times to the commencement of the peloponnesian war. I had the good fortune to read kagan before reading the the landmark thucydides. Thucydides the history of the peloponnesian war summary. Anyone who believes that democracy is a good idea has not read thucydides peloponnesian war. 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. Concerning the first point, professor kagan parts ways with thucydides and argues more. Considered essential reading for generals, statesmen, and liberally educated citizens for more than 2,000 years, the peloponnesian war is a mine of military, moral, political, and. The history of the peloponnesian war with biographical introduction. The history of the peloponnesian war continued to be modified well beyond the end of the war in 404, as exemplified by a reference at book i. Pericles was a general, the leader we most associate with athens golden age, but he ended up dying of plague before the end of the peloponnesian war. The lesbians had wished to revolt even before the war, but the spartans.
In the following summer, when the corn was in full ear, the peloponnesians and their allies, 1 under the command of archidamus, the son of zeuxidamus, the lacedaemonian 2 king, invaded attica, and encamping wasted the country. When the conviction was forced upon them, they were angry with the orators who had joined in promoting the expedition, just as if. Thucydides is generally regarded as one of the first true historians. May 23, 2010 the only pity is that thucidides died before finishing the book. Sep 05, 2012 alcibiades, the peloponnesian war, and the art of intrigue duration. Thucydides, an athenian, wrote the history of the war between the. Peter mansoor tipped me over the edge with a postgame remark about the daily brutalities in baghdad. The landmark thucydides is a great introductory translation of the text due to its contextualizing materials. After his death, thucydidess history was subdivided into eight books. History of the peloponnesian warbook 6 wikisource, the.
Its an amazing work, a literary work every bit as much as a history. The history of the peloponnesian war full audiobook 12. As a student at uni currently studying ancient history, i found this translation of thucydides history of the peloponnesian war to be incredibly helpful in understanding the chronology and the characters of the peloponnesian war, and hugely useful for revision, what with the summaries, maps, references, index, and editing. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war benjamin jowett, ed. The peloponnesian war was something i have wanted to read for a long time and i am extremely glad i finally did. Lets talk about the books youve chosen to better understand thucydides and his time. The history of the peloponnesian war is an account of the peloponnesian war in ancient greece, fought between the peloponnesian league led by. This is obviously no elementary work, but the editor has included many features to help make reading this book easier, such as explanatory headers, footnotes, maps, and margin summaries for every paragraph. The history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides summary. Review history of the peloponnesian war einternational relations. Donald kagan author of on the origins of war and pericles of athens this is the best book with which to start study of. Thucydides called his account of two decades of war between athens and sparta a possssion for all time, and indeed it is the first and still most famous work in the western historical tradition. Thucydides called his account of two decades of war between athens and sparta possession.
The history of the peloponnesian war ends in midsentence in 411, seven years before the end of the war and 11 before thucydideswho served as an athenian general before being exiled in 422, for failing a missionis believed to have died. Feb 03, 20 fourth and fifth years of the war revolt of mitylene. Kagan dedicated his career to the study of the war and his book is a modern masterpiece. As with any ancient text, much about the work is contested and much remains unclear. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war loeb classical. Our west pointeducated wisemen on the matter of iraq have been beating the drum.
Where does the peloponnesian war rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far. 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. When hen the news was brought to athens for a long while they disbelieved even the most respectable of the soldiers who had themselves escaped from the scene of action and clearly reported the matter, a destruction so complete not being thought credible. Thucydides has been dubbed the father of scientific history due to his strict standards of evidence. Peloponnesian war is fascinating in its laconic objectivity and for its wide coverage of interesting times written by a man who was a general during the war, suffered from defeat, exile and the ravages of the athenian plague and yet. The peloponnesian circumvallation works are described.
Fortunately ive already posted a little bit on some of the reasons i think are important to read thucydides. This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Bury remarks, the peloponnesians would have considered it the attic war. A comprehensive guide to the peloponnesian war by robert b strassler editor, victor davis hanson introduction by online at alibris. It is evident that the country now called hellas had in ancient times no settled population. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war, book ii. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read history of the peloponnesian war.
The first book on your list is by vincent azoulay, and its called pericles of athens. The next summer, just as the corn was getting ripe, the peloponnesians and their allies invaded attica under the command of archidamus son of zeuxidamus, king of sparta, 2 and ravaged the land. Considered essential reading for generals, statesmen, and liberally educated citizens for more than 2,000 years, the peloponnesian war is a mine of military, moral, political, and philosophical. Thucydides, an athenian, wrote the history of the war waged by the peloponnesians and the athenians against one another. Dear fellow thucydides readers, here are my notes in outline form for book 3. 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. Through the centuries thucydides peloponnesian wars has been considered the definitive history of this struggle for hellenic hegemony, however, in terms of the contemporary standards of the history profession he is a chronicler and more aptly described as the father of political science and current events studies. Sep, 20 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. Editor robert strassler has annotated this classic text to make it more accessible to modern more.
The peloponnesian war turns out to be no dry chronicle of abstract cause and effect. In this lecture, professor kagan focuses on the causes of the peloponnesian war and the possible motivations for thucydides book, the history of the peloponnesian war. Donald kagan author of on the origins of war and pericles of athens this is the best book with which to start study of thueydides and the peloponnesian war. Notes a newly revised edition of the richard crawley translation with maps, annotations, appendices, and enclyclopedic. The only pity is that thucidides died before finishing the book.
Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war, book iii. Victor davis hansons powerful introduction to robert strasslers admirable edition of the landmark thucydides concludes. The history of the peloponnesian war thucydides on. Whereas the penguin classics history of the peloponnesian war has quite limited support material, such things overflow in the landmark. Note on the geography of thucydides book i book ii book iii book iv book v book vi book vii book viii chapter.
A comprehensive guide to the peloponnesian war by thucydides. The landmark thucydides includes a vast array of superbly designed and presented maps, brief informative appendices by outstanding classical scholars on subjects of special relevance to the text, explanatory marginal notes on each page, an index of unprecedented subtlety, and numerous other useful features. Headlines from the peloponnesian war book 3 reading. History of the peloponnesian war by thucydides books on. Alcibiades, the peloponnesian war, and the art of intrigue duration. It was written by thucydides, an athenian general who served in the war. History of the peloponnesian war ebook written by thucydides. When the captives arrived at athens the athenians instantly put salaethus to death, although 1 he made various offers, and among other things promised to procure the withdrawal of the peloponnesians from plataea, which was still blockaded. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks. Click more information to see individual titles and access sample pages, including contents page, sample text, maps, art, introduction, chronological outline, appendices, and. Thucydides history of the peloponnesian war is divided into eight books that together cover twentyone of the twentyseven years of. Xenophon takes up the tale again if you are frustrated by not knowing the ending of the struggle. He began the task at the very outset of the war, in the belief that it would be great and noteworthy above all the wars that had gone before, inferring this from the fact that both powers were then at their best in preparedness for war in every. In the following summer, when the corn was in full ear, the peloponnesians and their allies, under the command of archidamus, the son of.
If your primary interest is in learning the history of the peloponnesian war, i would recommend donald kagans masterful book on the subject. History deserves to be remembered recommended for you. History of the peloponnesian war summary and study guide. The landmark thucydides is the first book in robert strasslers excellent series of annotated translations of ancient history. As a student at uni currently studying ancient history, i found this translation of thucydides history of the peloponnesian war to be incredibly helpful in understanding the chronology and the characters of the peloponnesian war, and hugely useful for revision, what with.
Feel free to use them to organize your thoughts as you move through your reading. It was written by thucydides, an athenian historian who also served as an athenian general during. Although the term peloponnesian war was never used by thucydides, one of the conflicts most important historians, the fact that the term is all but universally used today is a reflection of the athenscentric sympathies of modern historians. What makes these editions so different are the various additions that make the text easier to understand. History of the peloponnesian warbook 3 wikisource, the.
Introduction victor davis hanson book one book two book three book four book five book six book seven book eight epilogue. The history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides. Rahne the washington times without question, this is the finest edition of thueydides history ever produced. This book is an illustrated version of the original the history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides. The peloponnesian war 431404 bc, known as the attic war to ancient greece, as recounted by thucydides in history of the peloponnesian war, lasted 30 years and was primarily between the. Thucydides was one of the best authors of history i have ever read, but the narrative and the way he writes is not very suitable for a audiobook without having studied the ancient greeks and this book before. 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.
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