Thucydides

Thucydides (c. 460-c. 400 bc), Greek historian known for his History of the Peloponnesian War, a conflict in which he himself had been an important participant. He is recognized as one of the greatest exponents of history writing. His concern with objectivity exerted a strong influence on later Graeco-Roman historians such as Polybius and Dio Cassius.

Born in or near Athens, Thucydides was the son of an aristocratic Athenian. When the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta broke out in 431 bc, Thucydides recognized its historical importance and formulated plans for recording its course and outcome. In 424 bc he was appointed one of the commanders of the Athenian fleet off the Thracian coast but failed to arrive in time to prevent the capture of Amphipolis, which fell to the Spartan Brasidas. For this failure Thucydides was exiled and spent the next 20 years abroad, returning home at the end of the war (404 bc).

His History of the Peloponnesian War is in eight books and covers three phases of the war: the conflict between Athens and Sparta from 431 to 421 bc, ended by the Peace of Nicias; the Sicilian expedition of the Athenians from 415 to its disastrous failure in 413 bc; and the renewed war between Athens and Sparta from 413 to 404 bc. The history breaks off in 411 bc, though it was his intention to carry it on to the end of the war.

Thucydides brought to his undertaking a practical acquaintance with both politics and military science. His chief interest was in the military side of the war, which he presented in a terse, lucid style, avoiding the digressive storytelling of Herodotus. The account is arranged chronologically by season. Thucydides' material was based on personal observation and on the statements made by others present at the events. His research, he declared, was made laborious by the conflicting accounts of eyewitnesses, which he assessed with great care. His approach was one of perceptive detachment and most of his judgements have been confirmed by contemporary inscriptions and writings. To lend his history greater vividness, he gave the leading figures of war lengthy dramatic speeches which served as a medium for analysing public feeling and the issues at stake.