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Summary: Greek social and war history, the human condition & nature
Review: Thucydides, half a generation after the "father of history" Herodotus, is an amazing, analytical, concise (though side tracking) trip through one of the most interesting ancient wars.Historical arguments run as to the exact order that the text should be presented in, but this appears to be the excepted norm. A thoughtful and deep look into the war that tore apart the ancient Greek world, this is the original "Clash of the Titans." Thucydides employs the use of rhetorical and artistic forms to put forth major speeches and to give us a glimps into selected sections and minor scirmishes that led to the war between Athens and Sparta. Rather than the traditional Homeric theory that Wars happened because of the actions of a few people in high places, Thucy. looks to larger social and international reasoning. There is no "it's because of the gods," but instead a deep look at human nature and the way that we behave. A general in the war, and later this historian and writer, Thucy. looks at the human condition logically and uses a medical perspective to break things down as if war, and even human nature were a disease that we have yet to cure. This is genius. He begins with the theory that the only important things are: men, money and ships. This returns again and again throughout the entire work until we see how ironical this statement was, and that he has been slowly dragging us along to follow his theories. Wonderfully writen and amazingly ahead of its time, this history should be on everyone's shelf; after they have read it at least once.
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Summary: One of the first in Political Theory
Review: Thucydides, through the telling of a war, becomes one of the first to examine the complex relations that exist between states whose goals differ and are often in conflict, he redefines the concept of war in his time and sets the base for International Relations theorists from then on.
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Summary: Deep truths about human nature
Review: What a silly debate is taking place on this page! Who cares if Thucydides' account of the war is factually accurate? When have you ever read a factually accurate account of a war, that is without moral or political bias? I read _History of the Peloponnesian War_ in search of information broader than just the Athenian-Spartan conflict. This book is about humans in political society, not about Athenians. I find examples of crowds swayed by rhetoric rather than facts; of contemporary debates between power and morality; of social breakdown in times of great stress; of perennial logistical truths about the difficulty of fighting a war on multiple fronts. I read about the Delian League and learn about NATO. This is a great book, and a must read for anyone interested in contemporary world politics!
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