The History of the Peloponnesian War

"The History of the Peloponnesian War" by Thucydides is a historical account likely written in the 5th century BC. The text chronicles the conflict between the Peloponnesian League, led by Sparta, and the Athenian Empire, emphasizing the significant impact of this war on Greek society. Thucydides sets the stage for understanding various political and military motivations that led to what he predicts will be a monumental conflict. At the start of the book, Thucydides outlines the historical context of Greece leading up to the Peloponnesian War, tracing the evolution of Greek society from early migrations to the rise of formidable city-states. The narrative introduces the causes of the impending war, detailing the tensions between Athens and its rivals, especially Corinth and Sparta, culminating in Athenian expansion and the breach of treaties. It examines key incidents such as the disputes over Epidamnus and Potidaea, and the growing alarm among the Peloponnesians regarding Athenian power. Thucydides stresses that the war will not only involve military might but also a complex interplay of alliances, grievances, and the inexorable nature of human ambition. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Thucydides was an Athenian historian and general. His History of the Peloponnesian War recounts the fifth-century BC war between Sparta and Athens until the year 411 BC. Thucydides has been dubbed the father of "scientific history" by those who accept his claims to have applied strict standards of impartiality and evidence-gathering and analysis of cause and effect, without reference to intervention by the gods, as outlined in his introduction to his work.