Thucydides

While in Persia, Alcibiades advised a military general named Tissaphernes to exhibit their naval fleet during a battle with Athens, providing a window for Alcibiades to come to Athens with a false alliance (Thucydides, 412BC). There is an agreement between both Historians Plutarch and Thucydides concerning the overall character of Alcibiades, deeming him “hot-tempered, [having] an overruling desire for superiority and only wishing to personally gain wealth and reputation”. Works constructed by…

fair play, the representative of the Athenian said that “the standard of justice depend on the equality of the capacity to force and that in fact, the strong one do what they have the capacity and the weakness to accept what they have to accept” (Thucydide, 5:89). Although once declared that Périclès had justice must be made between the equal ones, the Athenians were deformed thereafter of justice so that, as far as power, Melians should not be treated…

Greece is often credited as the birthplace of western civilization, as well as creating the foundation of political ideologies still used today. The development of these bases of governments would not be possible without input from the bright thinkers and philosophers of the ancient world. Of the ancient Greek philosophers, many had different ideas on what the ideal form of government was, and the city states of Greece allowed the many different forms to rise and fall. The many forms of…

which 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 island of Melos was not the first nor was it last of the people the Athenians subjugated, but the events that occurred here were some of the most unjust in Thucydides text. Similar to Kings beliefs, the Melians tried to use peaceful means to maintain their neutrality and liberty but Athenians, knowing they have the strength to do so, took the unjust route when they gave an ultimatum demanding either complete…

be the main perpetrator behind this scandal. However, this bold accusation is far from logical for several reasons. First, by examining Thucydides’ writings, Alcibiades was a strong advocate for the Sicilian expedition and it would be contradictory to create a bad omen against this undertaking by mutilating the Hermae statues. Secondly, in addition to Thucydides’…

shameless in their deeds and reckless in openly seeking self-indulgent pleasure. In 2.44 Pericles praises those who met brave, honorable death on the battlefield while in 2.52-53 Thucydides speaks of temples filled with the dead left unburied or burned shamelessly on stolen funeral pyres. From this it is clear that Thucydides meant for the oration, the epidemic and the degradation of Athens were meant to be read together. He used the juxtaposition to contrast the lofty ideals of the funeral…

By first examining the history of the famous Melian Dialogue, then applying the positive, realist theories of Thucydides and Weber, then contrasting these theories with Kant’s normative, cosmopolitan beliefs, this fundamental issue of international relations - the Melian Dialogue - can be utilized to further examine the possibility of ethical action in the world of…

throughout that period of history. This is where most of the information historians have gathered about the plague came from. Thucydides had the plague but he did not die from it, so he gives an inside view of the symptoms and how it felt. This is really helpful because at this time they didn’t have a lot of good medical care so no medical journals or similar items were kept. Thucydides said that the disease began in Ethiopia, then moved into Egypt, then Libya, and then slowly over Greece.…

studied share a common thread of discussing individual happiness in terms of the happiness of the collective. These authors come to the consensus that happiness product of service to the state, being virtuous, and keeping ones’ desires in check. In Thucydides “Pericles’ Funeral Oration”, Pericles uses the promise of happiness by way of battlefield honour to justify the deaths caused by the Peloponnesian War. Similarly, concepts of gaining happiness through service to the state are also explored…