Thucydides introduction

Thucydides introduction

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  Introduction to Thucydides D Posker-Hill HistoryExtension
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  Who was Thucydides? Θουκυδίδης,Thoukydídēs C. 460 – 400 BC Athenian – Alimos/Halimos “Thucydides the Athenian wrote the history of the war fought between Athens and Sparta…” Thuc., History of the Peloponnesian War, 1.1.
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  Features of hisWork Use of Judgement evidence Analysis “Set Speeches” First Hand Experience
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  Thematic Focus? • Peloponnesian Wars • 431 to 404 BC • Athens vs Sparta • Athenian strategos (general) blamed for military defeat and exiled. • War and Politics • “And it may well be that my history will seem less easy to read because of the absence in it of a romantic element” Thuc., History of the Peloponnesian Wars, 1.22.17-19.
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  Use of Evidence Claimsof “scientific” approach Collating numerous sources “And with regard to my factual reporting of the events of the war I have made it a principle not to write down the first story that came my way, and not even to be guided by my own general impressions; either I was present myself at the events which I have described or else I heard of them from eye- witnesses whose reports I have checked with as much thoroughness as possible” Thuc., History of the Peloponnesian Wars, 1.22.9-14. The reality?
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  Judgments Evidence Interpretation History Doesn’t merely report the event “But the real reason for the war is, in my opinion, most likely to be disguised by such an argument. What made war inevitable was the growth of Athenian power and the fear which this caused in Sparta.” Thuc., History of the Peloponnesian Wars, 1.23.
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  Analysis Military Exile and Background Connections Historiography Thuc., History i.e. dealing with of the Homes Peloponnesian Wars, 1.10.18- 40.
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  Set Speeches Sophist Background Are they to be trusted? “In this history I have made use of set speeches some of which were delivered just before and others during the war. I have found it difficult to remember the precise words used in the speeches which I listened to myself and my various informants have experienced the same difficulty; so my method has been, while keeping as closely as possible to the general sense of the words that were actually used, to make the speakers say what, in my opinion, was called for by each situation” Thuc., History of the Peloponnesian Wars, 1.22.1-8.
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  What are the purposes of Thucydides’ history? Changing aims and purposes Aims and Changing purposes of role of history Thucydides Purposes of history over time
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  How has historybeen constructed and recorded over time? Via Thucydides Forms of historical Types of history in communication Thucydides Written Political Economic Military Where do women fit?
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  How to study Thucydides… Context Aims/purposes Type of Methodology/ies history/research focus How their work has changed from previous/later work incl. critics