Thucydides The Peloponnesian War
Public versus Private, and the impact to the war Thucydides, the author of The Peloponnesian War, differentiates itself from any of the former literature to not give heroic contents, but to analyze the content of the war between the Hellas. One of the greatest morale that he gives through the analysis is the separation of the public and private interests during a political project: in order to achieve the good of the city, the priorities must be set on the what is best for the many, rather than on private interests that benefits only a few, such as, but not limited to, preeminence, popularity, vengeance, and greed. The separation of public matters and private matters are exemplified by Pericles, who led the earlier part of the war, and destroyed …show more content…
All of those advices taken together, he suggests to put great emphasis on the strong spots of the city, rather than the weak spots, in order to maximize the efficiency during the biggest war Athenians are to go through. In order to follow his principles, he sometimes compromise democracy, shown in the inaction to call neither an assembly nor military discussions during the first invasion by the Spartans (Thuc., 2.22). Through such inaction, however, he prohibits the passion and emotions to take over. Through sticking to his principles, Pericles stopped the private interest from allowing the citizens and ancestors of the city to lose everything they built as a …show more content…
Alcibiades is restrained from participating in the Sicilian conquest from the beginning (6.89), and exiles to Sparta. He furiously expresses his desire to take revenge against the Athenians because the people unjustly treated him (Thuc., 6.92). He leaks any available information to the Spartans, in exchange of his personal interest of making the city suffer (fury; Thuc., 6.89-92)). He made his passion to overtake him, since passions of his enemies mistreated him. Spartans, despite not fully believing Alcibiades, take the opportunity to significantly weaken the
How Did Thucydides Affect The Peloponnesian War?
743 Words | 3 PagesAround 460 BCE a man named Thucydides lived to experience and record the historical storyline the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides was an Athenian, unbiased, historian that is best known for the way he structurally reconciled information from the Peloponnesian War and is credible for the most reliable source that chronicled the war. The Epic of Gilgamesh, an ancient epic poem regularly deemed as the first great work of literature, gives civilization a definition to the people of ancient Mesopotamia (Earth of Its Peoples, 26). Gilgamesh, the ultimate leader of Uruk, pursues immortality throughout his journey, exemplifying his power and educating himself on humankind along the way. If a fellow Athenian were to recite the Epic of Gilgamesh to Thucydides, he would likely
A Primary Text Analysis: The Funeral Oration Of Pericles
664 Words | 3 PagesThe Funeral Oration of Pericles: A Primary Text Analysis In Pericles’ Funeral Oration, the famous and influential text in 430 B.C was given by Pericles to traditionally honor the death of the soldiers that fought in war and serviced in the Athenian military. This interpretation of the oration is written by Thucydides, as it is a manuscript of what Pericles said to the Athenian public. Through this text, Pericles focuses on honoring the fallen soldiers, but he also emphases the values of Athenian society and the social structure of the invention of democracy, as it is introduced for the first time ever in history. The Funeral Oration of Pericles expresses the distinct values of strong moral standards for social structure and introduces democracy, as it reinforces laws and the need for equal justice.
How Did The Peloponnesian War Be Unbiased
577 Words | 3 PagesThucydides is the author of Peloponnesian War. The Peloponnesian War was a direct and indirect conflict between Sparta and Athens that lasted from 460-404 BCE. Thucydides fought for Athens during the Peloponnesian War and was later exiled by Athens. Thucydides was writing about something that he participated in and the Peloponnesian War became the first contemporary history. Thucydides also made use of eyewitness reports from people who were participants in the war.
How Did Thucydides Affect The Peloponnesian War?
824 Words | 4 PagesBeing alive to witness the events that occurred in and around fifth century B. C. E. Greece meant that Thucydides could not help but write down his experiences. The Athenians of Greece and the people of the Persian Empire were constantly at odds with each other, and these differences eventually led to the Peloponnesian war. This war lasted from 431-404 B.C.E. and began an era of conflict between the two peoples (Bulliet). This power struggle not only inflated the ego of the Athenians, but created many negative viewpoints of the Persians. Thucydides, being an Athenian, was therefore extremely biased against the Persians.
Classical Athens Vs Han China Dbq Essay
1000 Words | 4 PagesPericles, who was Greek, can be biased in his statement because as a leader, he needs to win the people’s support. Therefore, he can only say the glories of Athens. Document 5 supports Document 4’s statement. Document 5 talks about the details of the Athenian government. It tells the reader “No one remained in power long enough to entrench himself”
Surrounded By Glory: Pericles Impact On Society
491 Words | 2 PagesIntro Pericles meaning ‘Surrounded by Glory’, was an influential member and a credit to the society that he lived in during the classical period within ancient Athens. Pericles affected his society in a number of ways, politically, socially and economically. Pericles’ actions and motives were also shaped by the society that he lived in as Athens at the time of Pericles was a place of “aggressive, self-assertive competition” where “Greeks made a clear distinction between friends and enemies”. Pericles’ impact on his society can be seen through works and moments such as the pantheon and the democratic reforms of Athens.. Paragraph 1 (How did the individual's actions shape their society?)
How Did Cleisthenes Influence Greek Politics
571 Words | 3 PagesPericles was the continuation of Cleisthenes. Pericles was during the Golden Age. He wanted to continue where Cleisthenes left of with Greek Democracy. Pericles was a statesman and was damn good at his job to. He had outspoken all of his rivals and became very popular.
Pericles Words In Ending The Peloponnesian War
214 Words | 1 PagesAlthough Pericles’ words strived to inspire and encourage the Athenian people to fight valiantly against Sparta and its allies, they are not enough to embolden the Athenian people onto victory in the Peloponnesian War. His words do motivate Athenians to make tremendous effort in extending their power and defeating Sparta and its allies, but in the end, may have lead to Athenians’ demise. Fostering pride and determination throughout the war, Athens makes several attempts to expand its naval power, but fails in its plan to overtake Syracuse on the coast of Sicily, weakening its efforts against Sparta and its allied city-states. Finally, in the naval battle at Aegospotami, the Spartans have a decisive victory over Athens, and the Athenians eventually surrender, ending the Peloponnesian War.
What Impact And Influence Did Pericles Have During His Time?
1477 Words | 6 PagesInstead, these contributions skew away from his social impact and narrow down towards the political and military impact he had on Athenian society. Source C is an ancient source, created by Plutarch, that highlights the political and social influence Pericles held over powerful men, who chose to uplift and honour Pericles at his deathbed for his contributions to Athenian society. These two sources both mention the impact of Pericles, though they mention different contributions. Source A would be more useful for a historian looking into modern interpretations of Pericles’ creative and infrastructural contributions, whereas source C would be more useful for a historian looking into the ancient interpretations of Pericles’ political and social
Thucydides Influence On Athenian Democracy
979 Words | 4 PagesNicias’ first battle against the Syracusans was successful, however this quickly reversed. “The fear Nicias inspired on his first arrival had turned to contempt when, instead of attacking Syracuse at once he had spent the winter at Catana (131). Nicias did not want to fight in fear of loss, so he delays. Although Nicias was feared during his arrival at Syracuse, he is now despised by the Syracusans. The fear Nicias instilled would only trigger panic within the Syracusans if he attacked at once, since he delayed the fear dissolved and was replaced with
Pericles Presentation Of Attributes During The Peloponnesian War
616 Words | 3 PagesThe Peloponnesian War was a difficult period in Athenian history. Every victory was quickly followed by a crushing defeat. The overall morale of the Athenian people was low. During the funeral oration, Pericles gave a speech with this thesis: In order to protect the splendor and ideals of Athens, the Athenian citizens needed to undergo hardship for her sake.
Thucydides Grievances
444 Words | 2 PagesThe historian Thucydides described himself as a wealthy Athenian general whose exile to the Peloponnese allowed him to personally observe, from both the sides of the conflict, a comprehensive account of the Peloponnesian War. Book 1 in Thucydides’ “History of the Peloponnesian War” is dedicated to explaining over fifty years of the events and proceedings that led to the abandonment of the Thirty Year’s Peace and subsequent war. In Book 1 he identifies four main incidents, which I shall refer to as ‘grievances’, regarding the conduct of Athens towards both their Delian members and the Peloponnesian allies. Yet he also mentions what he deems to be a more ‘real’ truth than these four grievances that led to Sparta and the Peloponnese going to
Similarities Between Pericles And Socrates
1284 Words | 6 PagesPericles was respected and liked in Athenian society, and Socrates was neither respected nor liked. Socrates questioned everything about the way people lived their lives and their beliefs. Pericles believed that Athens was the best and the way that they lived was the right way and there should be no other way of life. With the way that Pericles and Socrates lived they would clearly have different views of life. Pericles believed that Athens was superior to any other Greek city- state.
The Importance Of Arete In Ancient Greece
1134 Words | 5 PagesWhile some, like Plato in his The Republic, thought it weak to give government into the hands of the common people, Pericles countered this argument with a compelling argument of greatness. By putting government into the hands of the people, the people are united and more devoted to their country. Democracy bonds the people together in a way that no other government can understand. Pericles confidently states, “Athenians advance unsupported into the territory of a neighbor, and fighting upon a foreign soil usually vanquish with ease men who are defending their homes.”
Similarities And Differences In The Peloponnesian War
521 Words | 3 PagesThe wars that took place in Sparta in Greece, Rome in Italy, and North Africa are similar to each other in terms of goals and results achieved. In the Peloponnesian War, Sparta's goal was to restore the balance of Greek power and maintain Spartan supremacy at the expense of Athens and the other states of the Greek Union, while Rome's goal in the wars that took place in Italy and North Africa was to unite the regions under its control and create a strong Roman Empire. Sparta and Rome were similar in their use of military force to achieve their goals. But there were differences in how these goals were achieved.
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