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. Speeches such as Pericles’ 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.”(II,34). Pericles’ oration deviates from the typical formula of Athenian funeral…

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…

Mahaa Ayub Introduction: The Persian Wars had just ended, and Athens had surprisingly come out on top. After the alliance between Athens and Sparta broke, Athens decided to create a new alliance, known as the Delian League, which helped the city’s wealth and empire during this time. The Golden Age of Athens is referring to the period where art and skills in the city were at their peak. Now at peace, Athens cultivated its city into its peak of cultural achievements. Pericles created an…

The idea of right and wrong have been something of question throughout the span of time. If I do this am I a bad person? What if no one saw me? Ethics gives us codes in which we use to give morality to our lives. In reading about Thucydides and Plato we see that, while both highly regarded philosophers, the methods they use to teach are vastly different. Thucydides preferred an empirical style in the way that he chose to approach his studies of human nature and believes that justice is…

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…

Menaldo states “Pericles style of speaking, rhetorical ability, and preference for rational explanation, became well settled in him on account of his great natural genius. His preference for rationality over customs, omens and divinations made its way into his policy proposals….Pericles Olympian loftiness, composure, calmness, and even the composure that characterized his tone of voice, present the embodiment of a political leader who derived his authority through his self-command and persuasive…

mainly on its navy while Sparta relied mainly on land power. The warriors of Sparta were the most powerful land army of the time. This rivalry both on land and at sea led to the Peloponnesian Wars in 431 BC. This war lasted 27 years and was the cause of the fall of Athens. The two main factors that caused Athens to lose the war were the failure to capture Sicily in 415 BC and the mysterious plague that ravaged Athens in 430 BC. Approximately one third of the population of Athens was killed by…

During the time of the Peloponnesian War, there was much turmoil in the city states of Greece. The two Greek main powers of the time, Athens and Sparta, were caught in a power struggle to be the main polis in control of the region. The turmoil sprung from the mutual distrust between the army centered Spartans and the naval centered Athenians: neither one wanted to lose to the other (Cartwright). Both powers were reaching to expand their empires in order to have a greater chance at defeating one…

The Melian councillors made a horrible mistake by not accepting the terms of the Athenians in 416. Although they had a truce, during the latter part of Peloponnesian War, the growing unease of the Athenians and Spartans, who were still weary of each other, caused the independent states, including the Melians, to become targets for the larger leagues. The Athenians decided they should acquire Melos, whose people monetarily supported the Spartans, but also claimed to be a neutral state. The…

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 Aristotle,…