Hanson’s A War Like No Other is an analysis of the Peloponnesian war between the Athens and Spartans in 431 BCE – 404 BCE. Hanson shows a great understanding of the conflicts between the two states and the pitiful result of the war that left both states with nothing but their crippled pride, if that. Based on a theme of warfare modality, Hanson tries to get the viewer to get a sense of themselves being in the war as well. This can be supported through his headers: Fire, Disease, Terror, etc. However, he does not give all the answers; readers need to know the basics of the conflicts between Athens and Sparta not only during the war but also prior. His use of parallels of other events in history also help give a better understanding of why the war had no “winner”, even though
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To most, taking two wars from vastly different time periods would seems as such: two different wars. Hanson though is able to take the two and compare them to make them seem eerily similar, like he is proving the statement that history repeats itself. For instance, many readers of A War Like No Other have concluded that Hanson has compared the Peloponnesian War to the American Civil War. His comparison of the wars is based on the casualties faced by the Athenian Empire and by the Confederates. This is a very good tactic because comparing a war that happened almost before time to a war that developed a country less than 400 years ago can help readers and students get a better understanding of the war. He goes to explain that the Confederates lost about 1 soldier every 27, which is mental. Comparing both “losers” of the war gives a common ground hitting the greatness of the war more close to home. This method also helps because the Peloponnesian War does not have as much evidence to the war besides Thucydides’ accounts, so using other wars to compare the statistics brings in more
To most, taking two wars from vastly different time periods would seems as such: two different wars. Hanson though is able to take the two and compare them to make them seem eerily similar, like he is proving the statement that history repeats itself. For instance, many readers of A War Like No Other have concluded that Hanson has compared the Peloponnesian War to the American Civil War. His comparison of the wars is based on the casualties faced by the Athenian Empire and by the Confederates. This is a very good tactic because comparing a war that happened almost before time to a war that developed a country less than 400 years ago can help readers and students get a better understanding of the war. He goes to explain that the Confederates lost about 1 soldier every 27, which is mental. Comparing both “losers” of the war gives a common ground hitting the greatness of the war more close to home. This method also helps because the Peloponnesian War does not have as much evidence to the war besides Thucydides’ accounts, so using other wars to compare the statistics brings in more