Thucydides

eligible for the public offices nor allowed to vote (Brand, n.d.). Moreover, some can argue that this openly democratic system allowed for a kind of tyrannical government, the “dictatorship of the proletariat” (Blackwell, 2003), and others like Thucydides and Plato blamed this system directly for the Ancient Athens fall (Brand, n.d.). Tyranny can be defined as an oppressive government, and virtually all government forms discussed here can turn into a tyrannical system, including democracy. In…

studied first the physical doctrine of motion and physical momentum and when he toured Europe with the son of his employer William Cavendish in 1610 he studied the European scientific and critical methods. In 1628 Hobbes translated from Greek the Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War it was the first translation in English. He did not extend his studies and writing into philosophy unit after 1629 when his employer died during the plague. After his employer’s death, his widow discontinued…

As Thucydides once said, "The secret to happiness is freedom...And the secret to freedom is courage". Freedom for many is seen as a form of independence which has been a major influence in the foundation of the United States since its very beginning. As we can reflect back now we can see events such as Bacons Rebellion showing us "Americans would take up arms to fight for their rights". However, the idea of independence was a slow process that built up over time until it reached the brim and…

Pericles, Athenian statesman of the 5th century B.C., whose name is closely associated with the great age of Athenian democracy and culture, the Athenian Empire, and the Peloponnesian War. He was born about 495 B.C., son of Xanthippus, a well-known political figure during the period of the Persian Wars, and Agariste, of the Alcmeonid family, one of the most prominent in Athens. Although little is known of his youth, two men seem to have played an important role in his education: Damon,…

Lakedaimoniōn Politeia, known in English as, Polity of the Spartans is a historical account of the Spartan culture, particularly around the time of Lycurgus, the legendary military reformer, to whom Sparta owes its military personality. Polity of the Spartans was written between 430 and 355 B.C.E. by Xenophon. Xenophon was a student of Socrates, so it is possible that he wrote this work for his fellow philosophers. His education under Socrates is undoubtedly what gave his work an analytical…

Cartledge writes that information about the Peloponnesian wars is skewed by an Athenian viewpoint seeing as the major source on the wars come from Thucydides, an Athenian man himself, but nonetheless concedes that he is a vital source on the subject. The Peloponnesian wars are an important turning point for Sparta in their struggle to maintain their impressive appearance to the other Greek poleis. Athens…

belligerence and create victims, hiding the entire discourse in our righteousness—we started the discussion. When we find ourselves with a tension between power and dialogue, it makes sense to read the Athenians’ failure at “discussing” with the Melians—Thucydides wrongly calls this dialogue too. But we cannot retreat nor can we take back our threat and negotiates need to happen soon. How can we create a dialogue, an equal and just discussion, when we’ve already threatened Scanthon with…

While the assassination was a spark, the environment was rich with fuel ready to ignite a major war. The strategic factors that best explain the outbreak of WWI are the concepts of fear, honor, and interests as described by Thucydides. Fear of the intentions of other nations led to an arms race and the perceived need to be the aggressor. Honor drove nationalistic fervor and forced alliances to join in conflict expanding the scope and cost of the war. Finally, military interests…

The Athenians began to build their empire and their growth alarmed their neighboring city states, particularly Sparta. According to Thucydides, “because the growth of Athenian power alarmed the Spartans, who feared that their interests and allies would fall to the Athenians’ relentless drive.” (100) With that being said Athens began to grow and raise eyebrows of the counselors of Sparta…

is the most controversial one causing interests and principles of one nation to clash with the ones of a different nation, which then causes to International Politics to change its purpose from achievement to conflict resolution. Thinkers such as Thucydides, Machiavelli and Hobbes have described International Politics as realist, where there is a constant struggle for power.…