History of the Peloponnesian War

angered the higher class who originally had the upper hand in these matters. Ancient historian, Thucydides initially admired Pericles for his career, but criticised the concept of democracy. Thucydides is recorded to have stated in The History of the Peloponnesian War, “As for democracy […], as I have more cause to complain about it.”. (Thucydides) This quote shows evidence that Thucydides was against democracy due to his connections to wealthy Athenians at the time. Ancient sources, like…

The Delian League, a military coalition composed of Greek states, was formed to combat against any further retaliation from the Persians after the end of the Persian Wars. Over time, however, the League strayed away from its initial objective. Under the leadership of Athens, the Delian League slowly evolved into what modern scholarships describes as the “Athenian Empire”. Soon after the League’s formation, Athens began to gain more control of the League through military might through examples…

and Plato’s beloved teacher, Socrates, whom was executed in 399 BCE, after being accused of impiety and for teaching and corrupting the mind of the youths in the city of Athens. Prior to when the trial occurred, Greece was to encounter a tragic civil war, which included both Athens and Sparta, the two most powerful city- states in the ancient Greek world. It was a time in which all cities believed they were superior to any and every one. So in result, these cities would fight one another in…

other hand we do know who is responsible for making us be able to read the speech over and over again and read more about Ancient Greece and that person is Thucydides. Thucydides is the author of the book The history of the Peloponnesian war. This book contains a big part of Ancient greece history but also Pericles speech, although cameras and recorders did not exist during that time one can not be entirely sure if Thucydides have written the speech down word for word or if he himself has…

Pericles’s people doubted anything they might accomplish about the war in Peloponnese. Throughout their speeches, they possessed the aptitude to persuade. However, Persuasion is the weapon of the orator as the sword is the weapon of the warrior,…

Throughout human history millions of people have died for their countries, leaving loved ones and fellow citizens to question whether this ultimate sacrifice was warranted. The number of deaths resulting from war is immense, and often results in a collective examining of the governments for which these individuals perished. This contemplation can range from the quality of life a state affords its people to the ideals on which it was founded. After the first year of the Peloponnesian War,…

In the History of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides recreates Pericles’ well-known funeral oration that was given at the end of the first year of the war. Funeral orations were traditionally delivered to honor the fallen in Athen’s many wars and campaigns against other countries. Thucydides remarks on this tradition, claiming that, “[the chosen orator] makes an appropriate speech in praise of the dead.” (2,34). Pericles’ oration differs from the typical arrangement of Athenian funeral speeches,…

these individuals and subsequently compare and contrast these viewpoints. The Unified Nation of Greece that is present today is a relatively new creation. For much of it’s past it compromised of alliances and warring cities. One of these wars was the Peloponnesian war. “The immediate causes…

The classical realism takes as its starting point the philosopher Thucydides works the Peloponnesian War, in which he describes the war between Athens and Sparta. The two rivals conquer each other's colonies in an attempt to win more allies and thus hold more power and strength than his enemy. This strength and power holdings leads, according to Thucydides (2006), to his own empire safety increases. "So THAT by conquering you We Shall Increase not only the size but the security of our Empire"…

Throughout history, war has shaped, changed, as well as eliminated cultures and civilizations in the world. In the case of Ancient Athens, war was feared as well as respected. Soldiers who have fallen on the battlefield were given honorary ceremonial burials with a member of society conducting a speech in honor of their bravery, and servitude for the city-state. This selected member within society was chosen by the city for his intellectual gifts as well as his reputation within the society.…