What were Thucydides beliefs?
Thucydides believed that the Peloponnesian War represented an event of unmatched importance. As such, he began to write the History at the onset of the war in 431 BC. He declared his intention was to write an account which would serve as “a possession for all time”.
What was special about Thucydides?
Thucydides, (born 460 bc or earlier? —died after 404 bc?), greatest of ancient Greek historians and author of the History of the Peloponnesian War, which recounts the struggle between Athens and Sparta in the 5th century bc. His work was the first recorded political and moral analysis of a nation’s war policies.
What did Thucydides focus on?
On the other hand, Thucydides, another prominent historian of the time, was coined the ‘scientific historian’ for his focus on facts, dates, and eyewitness accounts of events in his own lifetime (Korab-Karpowicz).
What was Thucydides writing style?
In its chronologies and narrative, the “History of the Peloponnesian War” is a marvel of direct prose, as Thucydides combines multiple sources into a single compelling voice. In the completed sections of the work, the narrative is interrupted by speeches from the warring sides’ principal leaders.
What is meant by Thucydides Trap?
The Thucydides Trap, also referred to as Thucydides’ Trap, is a term popularized by American political scientist Graham T. Allison to describe an apparent tendency towards war when an emerging power threatens to displace an existing great power as a regional or international hegemon.
What is the meaning of Thucydides Trap?
What is the difference between Herodotus and Thucydides?
Herodotus wrote about the wars between Persia and Greece. Thucydides wrote about the civil war between Athens and Sparta. Together these ancient Greek writers became the first true historians in Western civilization.
How is Thucydides pronounced?
In English, the correct pronunciation of Thucydides is Thoo-sihd-ih-deez. To pronounce Thucydides the right way, first of all, the “th” is pronounced like in the word “though”. Second, the “u” is pronounced with an “oo” sound.
Is there a Thucydides trap?
Who won Peloponnesian War?
Sparta
Athens was forced to surrender, and Sparta won the Peloponnesian War in 404 BC. Spartans terms were lenient. First, the democracy was replaced by on oligarchy of thirty Athenians, friendly to Sparta. The Delian League was shut down, and Athens was reduced to a limit of ten triremes.
Where did Thucydides live most of his life?
Thucydides’ Life. His father’s name was Olorus, and his family was from Thrace in northeastern Greece, where Thucydides owned gold mines that likely financed his historical work. He was born in the Athenian suburb of Halimos and was in Athens during the plague of c.430 B.C., a year after the war began.
What did Thucydides write about the politics of war?
Thucydides is careful to note that at times he records only the gist of what was said, or what he thinks should have been said. The greatest of these speeches, such as the Athenian leader Pericles ’ oration for his city’s war dead, offer lasting insight into the politics of war and the complexities of human nature.
Where was Thucydides located during the Peloponnesian War?
Thucydides and the History of the Peloponnesian War. At the time, Athens was a great sea power with a democratic political system and innovative leadership that made it a formidable force. Sparta, located in the Peloponnese (the southern peninsula of mainland Greece), was most powerful as a land force.