History of the Peloponnesian War
INTRODUCTION
Thucydides • History of the Peloponnesian War
Book One
Thucydides • History of the Peloponnesian War
Translator’s Note
Thucydides • History of the Peloponnesian War
But they could not have said everything attributed to them, and they said important things the historian omitted. Our trouble is that it is normally impossible to distinguish, though my credulity stops short of believing that Pericles ever said in the Athenian Assembly that ‘your empire is now like a tyranny’ (II, 63, echoed by Cleon in III, 37 wit
... See moreThucydides • History of the Peloponnesian War
The Mytilene debate is a good point of departure.
Thucydides • History of the Peloponnesian War
The conclusion is that the speeches are not what we should call historical reporting in the same sense as the narrative.
Thucydides • History of the Peloponnesian War
Knowledge must lead to understanding. In the field of history, even when largely restricted to contemporary history, that meant trying to grasp general ideas about human behaviour, in war and politics, in revolution and government.
Thucydides • History of the Peloponnesian War
Yet there is not even a hint of the decree in the book.9 In a different vein, there is the way he deals with civil strife.
Thucydides • History of the Peloponnesian War
But Thucydides certainly knew that in 425 B.C. the Athenians, running short of funds, made a radical re-assessment of the tribute from the empire, more than trebling the total demanded;