History of the Peloponnesian War

Outline

History of the Peloponnesian War (5th century BCE) is the classic account of the long war between Athens and Sparta and their allies in ancient Greece. Thucydides, who lived through the conflict, describes its causes, battles, and political debates, including famous speeches such as Pericles’ funeral oration. His careful, evidence-based approach makes the work one of the foundations of historical writing and political thought.

• The book tells the story of the long war between Athens and Sparta and their allies in ancient Greece.
• Thucydides lived through the conflict himself, which gives his account the weight of a firsthand witness.
• He explains the causes of the war, not only the battles, so the reader sees how conflicts begin.
• Political debates and speeches, such as Pericles' funeral oration, show how leaders argued, persuaded and justified their choices.
• His careful, evidence-based method made the work one of the foundations of historical writing and political thought.

Thucydides (c. 460–c. 400 BCE) was an Athenian historian and general who is often called the father of scientific history. After a military failure, he was exiled from Athens, which allowed him to observe the war from both sides. His History of the Peloponnesian War remains widely studied for its insights into power, politics, and human nature.