“Indeed he was by nature so formed for the conduct of public affairs, that he was at once the man most unlikely to be led into an error by the power of any, and the most capable of leading others; the most capable also of foreseeing what was likely to happen. In his hands, the Athenian state was powerful in action and admirable in counsel; his personal administration, too, was in the same spirit; and when he saw the people passionately excited and led away by the pleasure of the moment, he would not say what might please them, but could indeed by his opposition sway them to his own views. When again they were unreasonably depressed, he could at once restore them to confidence by his speeches.”
Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War is a detailed chronological account of the conflict between Athens and Sparta, which took place from 431 to 404 BCE. Thucydides, an Athenian general, historian, and a contemporary of the war, embarked on a meticulous task of recording the events with a commitment to accuracy and impartiality, marking a departure from mythological explanations of history to one grounded in human politics, decision-making, and, what he saw as, the nature of power.
The history is divided into eight books, which, while not titled by Thucydides himself, can be summarized thematically:
Book 1 begins with an overview of Greek history leading up to the war, including the development of Athenian power and the pre-war tensions, which Thucydides attributes to Spartan fear of Athens' growing empire. This sets the stage for the inevitable conflict as the balance of power begins to shift.
Book 2 details the early years of the war, highlighting Pericles' strategy of avoiding land battles with the superior Spartan hoplites, instead relying on naval supremacy. It also containsThe Funeral Oration of Pericles, which serves as a eulogy for the first war dead and a defense of Athenian democracy. The book ends with the devastating plague that swept Athens, claiming Pericles among its victims.
Book 3 and 4 recount the middle years of the war, characterized by a series of smaller conflicts, with neither side able to secure a decisive advantage. Thucydides examines the war's impact on Greek society, including internal strife and a decline in traditional morals and religious observances.
Book 5 covers the uneasy peace of Nicias, which was never truly stable, and sets the stage for the catastrophic Sicilian Expedition, Athens’ failed attempt to conquer Syracuse, which is extensively detailed in Book 6 and 7. This overreaching effort led by ambitious Athenian generals like Alcibiades, results in a massive military and moral loss for Athens.
Book 8, incomplete due to Thucydides’ untimely end, delves into the waning years of the war, as Sparta gains support from Persia and eventually triumphs over the weakened Athenian navy. The book cuts off abruptly, with the ultimate conclusion of the war known from other sources—Athens' surrender in 404 BCE, leading to the temporary overthrow of its democracy and the establishment of the oligarchic Thirty Tyrants.
Throughout the narrative, Thucydides remains a clinical observer, focused on providing a rational and empirical record, examining the nature of power, the morality of imperialism, and the dynamics of statesmanship and leadership. His work not only documents the complexity of war but also acts as a profound inquiry into the human condition, serving as a timeless reflection on the cycles of history and the behavior of men in times of crisis.
History of the Peloponnesian War
The Funeral Oration of Pericles