These comments provide an analysis of athens defeat in the war which many scholars have found hard to. Thucydides alone shows sympathy with pericles, though, as j. Athens sends a huge fleet to sicily and suffers disaster. And now the war between the athenians and peloponnesians and the allies of both 1 actually began. Thucydides, the peloponnesian war, book 2, chapter 34. Now they began to blame pericles for having persuaded them to go to war and to hold. So the order of each subdivision of this book is as follows. Did thucydides report the pericles funeral speech honestly. Selections from the history of the peloponnesian war, and more on. Pericles funeral oration thucydides excerpt youtube. Four ostensibly minor stylistic features of the passage show that thucydides represented pericles as praising athenian democracy but carefully embedding his comments in a wider discussion of athenian mores. Archidamus, the spartan king, leads a lacedaemonian force into attica.
Thucydides history of the peloponnesian war, book 2, chapter. Sex when the play opens, our hero tries to marry a princess who turns out to be sleeping with her own father. Last speech thucydides book ii, 5964 after the second invasion of the peloponnesians there had been a change in the spirit of the athenians. The history of the peloponnesian war book 2 chapter 7. About 270 years after the iliad, or thereabouts, plague is the centrepiece of two great classical athenian works sophocles oedipus the king, and book 2 of thucydides. His history of the first conflict, 431421, was nearly complete. Beginning of the peloponnesian war first invasion of attica funeral oration of pericles the war between the athenians and peloponnesians and the allies on either side now really begins. The history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides. This group was defeated and many prisoners were captured. For pericles had already carried a motion to the effect that they would have nothing to do with herald or embassy while the lacedaemonians were in the field. Written by one of the fathers of western history, thucydides history of the peloponnesian war is a landmark literary and scholarly achievement documenting the pivot point in the golden age of athenian democracy. He was so important for athens that his name defines the. The peloponnesian war was really three conflicts 431421, 4154, and 4404 bce that thucydides was still unifying into one account when he died some time before 396 bce.
The peloponnesian war 431404 bc was an ancient greek war fought by the delian league led by athens against the peloponnesian league led by sparta. In the summer of 428 bc, the peloponnesian army once again invades attica. As kagan reveals in his book after a lifetime of study of the long war between the greeks, our man thucydides was human after all. I establish that pericles s rule, contra thucydides, was democratic since it satisfied a minimalist requirement of democracy. Their land had been twice devastated, and they had to contend with the war and the plague at the same time. Pericles funeral oration from the peloponnesian war book 2. History of the peloponnesian warbook 2 wikisource, the. Although thucydides records the speech in the first person as if it were a word for word record of what pericles said, there can be little doubt that he edited the speech at the very least. Peloponnesian war is fascinating in its laconic objectivity and for its wide coverage of interesting times written by a man who was a general during the war, suffered from defeat, exile and the ravages of the athenian plague and. Pericles delivers the oration not only to bury the dead, but to praise democracy. The only pity is that thucidides died before finishing the book. Thucydides political judgement malcolm heath after reporting the death of pericles thucycides gives an assessment of his leadership, adding by way of contrast some comments on the situation which developed in athens subsequently 2.
Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war, the second book. The war was really three conflicts with one uncertain peace after the first. Pericles funeral oration internet history sourcebooks project. The second book of thucydides is of particular interest because it contains important sections on the funeral oration, the account of the plague at athens and the obituary of pericles. Pericles, a great supporter of democracy, was a greek leader and statesman during the peloponnesian war. The history emphasizes the development of military technologies. Thucydides history of the peloponnesian war, book 2. Tandem 1773 termagant show no signs of eclipse 1764 grecian princess x770 curb. Thucydides seems to not trust the common man in being able to run a government yet at the same time he feels that the common man should have a say it what a city decides, but that it should be heavily influenced by the likes of a higher standing citizen, such as pericles. It is well known that thucydides held the view that human nature had. Xenophon takes up the tale again if you are frustrated by not knowing the ending of the struggle. Prone to melancholy, pericles worries about antiochus trying to have him killed, and sets off on more adventures and endures several shipwrecks. Pericles described the government as one that did not copy the institutions of their neighbors, thucydides, p. The state of greece from the earliest times to the commencement of the peloponnesian war.
But in the fifteenth year, being the fortyeighth of the priesthood of chrysis in argos, aenesias being then ephor at sparta and pythadorus, archon of athens, having then two months of his government to come, in the sixth month after the battle at potidaea and in the beginning of the spring. His history of the peloponnesian war recounts the fifthcentury bc war between sparta and athens until the year 411 bc. Thucydides books list of books by author thucydides. All talking between the 2 sides happened through heralds. The present study examines thucydides assessments of pericles 2. Beginning of the peloponnesian warfirst invasion of atticafuneral oration of pericles. Use pericles in a sentence pericles sentence examples.
Pericles begins the play in antioch, where he desires to marry antiochuss daughter. While it is likely he is related to the later historian and general thucydides, son of olorus, the details are uncertain. But have we the right to assume at once that all the ideals expressed in the speech are thucydides. In this section of the text, thucydides describes the first two years of the war between the athenians and the peloponnesians. Beginning of the peloponnesian warfirst invasion of attica funeral oration of pericles theban forces try to take the city of plataea, but are routed from the town. With an english translation by charles forster smith. The great events by famous historiansvolume 2pericles rules in athens. Outbreak of the war, 431 bc chapters 117 in plataea, a faction anxious to leave its alliance with athens helps thebes attack the city, but a counterattack by athenian loyalists routs the theban forces. Selfcontrol is the chief element in selfrespect, and selfrespect is the chief element in courage. Although thucydides records the speech in the first person as if it were a word for word record of what pericles said, there can be. The conflict, fought between the athenianled delian league and the spartanled peloponnesian league, signaled the end of athenian dominance in greece at the close of the fifth. Thucydides classic work, history of the peloponnesian war, provides us with the historical framework for 5th century greece, a golden age of intellectual achievement and creativity rarely equaled in human history. Even though the athenians were in the midst of a long and costly war with sparta that would ultimately mean their defeat, this beautiful oration sent a powerful. That was a regular occurrence in athens after the end of the persian wars.
Beginning of the peloponnesian war first invasion of attica funeral oration of pericles. He carefully crafted a story that he wanted the audience to accept. Next, thucydides indirectly reports the advice of pericles. Around that time, will shakespeare was all about experimenting with the genre of romance. In this paper i argue that thucydides s praise of pericles s leadership amounts to an appreciation of a democratic advantage. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Funerals after such battles were public rituals and pericles used the occasion to make a classic statement of the value of democracy. History of the peloponnesian war everymans library. The description of the plague immediately follows on from thucydides renowned account of pericles funeral oration it is important that pericles died of the plague in 429 bc, whereas thucydides caught it but survived.
Excerpts from thucydides 1 pericles funeral oration pericles funeral oration 2 the mitylenian debate the mitylenian debate 3 the melian dialogue the melian dialogue pericles funeral oration thucydides, book 2, chapters 3446 in the same winter the athenians gave a funeral at the public cost to those who had first fallen in this war. Thucydides, the peloponnesian war part ii, in the english works of thomas hobbes of malmesbury. Aug 31, 2016 the source i chose for this week was thucydides depiction of pericles funeral oration. Edinger translated thucydides s work, plus he wrote an introduction to this book, added notes, and made his own comments on each of the speeches of pericles. Aug 20, 2016 listen to pericles funeral oration thucydides excerpt audio book. Chapter vi beginning of the peloponnesian war first invasion of attica funeral oration of pericles the war between the athenians and peloponnesians and the allies on either side now really begins. Historians have traditionally divided the war into three phases. What can thucydides and the plague of athens teach us in. He was totally obsessed with stories about families being torn apart and then miraculously reuniting after long periods of heartache and suffering. Thucydides the history of the peloponnesian war books. In doing so, he implicitly censures both pericles and the athenian imperial project itself. Thucydides then remarks that should another dorian war come, this time attended with a great famine, the rhyme will be remembered as famine, and any mention of plague forgotten. Understanding the role of democracy in thucydides history depends to a large extent on 2. Moving away from conceptions of leadership as a quality of individuals, modern leadership theory views leadership as a relational process between leaders and followers.
Thucydides developed a new and effective political tactic by having his supporters sit together in the assembly, increasing their apparent strength and giving them a united voice. Thucydides peloponnesian war better than herodotus histories. The great events by famous historiansvolume 2pericles rules in. History of the peloponnesian war, volume i thucydides. Thucydides history of the peloponnesian war 8 vols. Elitist democracy and democratic advantage in thucydidess. Thucydides was still at work on this when the war spread to sicily and into a conflict 4154 likewise. Providing a thorough critique and analysis of thucydides neglected book 8, taylor shows that thucydides praises political compromise centered around the traditional city in attica. Thucydides, pericles, and the idea of athens in the. Thucydides quotes author of history of the peloponnesian war. Thucydides assessments of pericles and alcibiades as a. Thucydides peloponnesian war, steven lattimore translation. Peloponnesian war is fascinating in its laconic objectivity and for its wide coverage of interesting times written by a man who was a general during the war, suffered from defeat, exile and the ravages of the athenian plague and yet. Athens derived from her alliances, as well with greek as with foreign princes and states.
Thucydides history of the peloponnesian war, book 2, chapter 6 beginning of the peloponnesian warfirst invasion of atticafuneral oration of pericles. Thucydides has been dubbed the father of scientific history by those who accept his claims to. Thucydides admired pericles, approving of his power over the people and showing a marked distaste for the demagogues who followed him. Dec 07, 2016 contrary to mcphersons assessment, thucydides has to be read more critically rather than accepted as trustworthy. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war, volume i. By these and similar words pericles endeavoured to appease the anger of the athenians against himself, and to divert their minds from their terrible situation. Funeral oration of pericles, from the history of the. One major theme can be found in book 2, chapter 53, where thucydides describes the situation in athens after it had been stricken with plague during the peloponnesian war. Two somber developments share the focus of book 2, chapter 7. Thucydides treats the plague in extensive detail, reporting theories about its origins and detailing its symptoms.
Discussion of themes and motifs in thucydides history of the peloponnesian war. For now all intercourse except through the medium of heralds ceased, and hostilities were commenced and prosecuted without intermission. The peace, which after the winning of euboea was concluded for thirty years, lasted fourteen years. The history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides, pericles. Thucydides has been dubbed the father of scientific history due to his strict standards of evidencegathering and analysis in terms of cause and effect. Although unfinished and as a whole unrevised, in brilliance of description and depth of insight this history has no superior. Pericles funeral oration is a speech written by thucydides for his history of the peloponnesian war. The history was divided into separate books by later. See all books authored by thucydides, including history of the peloponnesian war, and on justice, power and human nature. In chapter 5, pericles and athens, plataea in book 2 reveals the formida.
History of the peloponnesian war book by thucydides. Pericles, prince of tyre was written around 16061608, late in our shipwreckloving playwrights career. Reinforcements arrive too late to help, after being delayed by rain that has swelled a local river, making it impassable. The sourcebook is a collection of public domain and copypermitted texts related to medieval and byzantine history. Thucydides book ii, 5964 after the second invasion of the peloponnesians there had been a change in the spirit of the athenians. The funeral oration was recorded by thucydides in book two of his famous history of the peloponnesian war. Now from this point begins the war of the athenians and peloponnesians and their allies. The history of the peloponnesian war book 2 chapter 6 summary. The narrative is arranged according to summers and winters and follows the order of events. Thucydides represents the constitution under pericles as a democracy in. Pericles, prince of tyre is a jacobean play written at least in part by william shakespeare and included in modern editions of his collected works despite questions over its authorship, as it was not included in the first folio. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war, book ii. Chapter xviii seventeenth year of the war the sicilian campaign affair of the hermae departure of the expedition the same winter the athenians resolved to sail again to sicily, with a greater armament than that under laches and eurymedon, and, if possible, to conquer the island. The history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides free.
The greatest of all greek historians was the athenian general thucydides 455400 b. Henceforward the struggle was uninterrupted, and they communicated with 2 one another only by heralds. Jul 16, 2012 beginning of the peloponnesian war first invasion of attica funeral oration of pericles 1 the war between the athenians and peloponnesians and the allies on either side now really begins. We catch a glimpse of it in thucydides book ii, with pericles s funeral oration, where he lays out this vision of the ideal city. In the same winter the athenians gave a funeral at the public cost to those who had first fallen in this war. Now first collected and edited by sir william molesworth, bart. Jan 10, 2011 in pericles speech at the end of book one chapters 140 144 there were some points he made that provides a foundation for his strategy toward the spartans. This paper suggests that two muchdiscussed passages in pericles funeral speech in thucydides book 2, the first in 2.
His counsel is quite consistent with his advice beforehand. Analysis of the history of the peloponnesian war, by. Kagan asserts that this tactic helped thucydides mount a concerted opposition to pericles which brought to light ideological differences among pericles supporters. Even though pericles is technically a king, hes often called prince pericles, which tells us that the dude still has a lot to learn about leadership and power early on in the play. First speech of pericles as written by thucydides in translation, notes by edinger, comments by edinger. As usual the athenians do not provide massed resistance. Jan 12, 2018 pericles funeral oration is a speech written by thucydides for his history of the peloponnesian war. Thucydides portrait of pericles ii the first campaign and the funeral oration the actual narrative of the war starts in book 2.
In the same winter the athenians gave a funeral at the public cost to. Audio reading of thucydides history of the peloponnesian war, book 2, chapter 6. Whilst various arguments support that shakespeare is the sole author of the play notably delvecchio and hammonds cambridge edition of the play, modern editors. In the first phase, the archidamian war, sparta launched repeated invasions of attica, while athens took advantage of its naval supremacy to raid the coast of the. The first act of violence was the attack upon plataea, a city allied with athens, by a theban force. Statue portrait of historian thucydides outside the austrian parliament in vienna. The honors college at the university of houston presents this program about the machines that make our civilization run, and the people whose ingenuity created them d uring the first obama campaign, there was a pervasive image. In thucydides, the history of the peloponnesian war, there are many themes that are illustrated throughout various passages. The history places great importance upon naval supremacy, arguing that a modern empire is impossible without a strong navy.
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