Thucydides – The Peloponnesian War

Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War is a seminal work of history and political analysis that chronicles the brutal conflict between Athens and Sparta (431–404 BCE). Written by an Athenian general who lived through the war, the text offers a meticulous and unflinching account of the events, strategies, and key figures that shaped this tumultuous period. Thucydides breaks from mythological traditions, grounding his work in evidence, realism, and rational analysis. His insights into human nature, power struggles, and the causes of conflict remain strikingly relevant today. From Pericles’ rousing funeral oration to the devastating plague in Athens, and from shifting alliances to the catastrophic Sicilian Expedition, the narrative explores the interplay of ambition, hubris, and the devastating cost of war. A cornerstone of Western historical thought, Thucydides’ work is as much a philosophical inquiry into politics and ethics as it is a military history.