In what ways did Thucydides improve historical writings?

In what ways did Thucydides improve historical writings?

Thucydides wrote only about events that occurred during his lifetime that he could verify through examination of written records and eyewitness accounts. He strived for complete objectivity, and in this way he pioneered the historical method used by historians today.

Why did Thucydides write his history?

In the first sentence of his History of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides wrote that he began writing about the war because he believed “it would be a great war, and more worthy of relation than any other that had preceded it.” He went on to identify what he believed to be the “real cause” of the war.

What was the main subject of Thucydides?

Unlike his near-contemporary Herodotus (author of the other great ancient Greek history), Thucydides’ topic was his own time. He relied on the testimony of eyewitnesses and his own experiences as a general during the war. Though specific in detail, the questions he addressed were timeless: What makes nations go to war?

What did Thucydides accomplish?

Thucydides Significant Accomplishments Wrote History of the Peloponnesian War which documents the war between Athens and Sparta in the 5th century BCE as he personally lived through it. Was elected a strategos – military general – and given command of seven ships to defend Amphipolis.

Does Thucydides believe in democracy?

He did not approve of the democratic commoners nor of the radical democracy that Pericles ushered in, but considered democracy acceptable when guided by a good leader. Thucydides’ presentation of events is generally even-handed; for example, he does not minimize the negative effect of his own failure at Amphipolis.

What is meant by Thucydides Trap?

The Thucydides Trap, also referred to as Thucydides’ Trap, is a term popularized by American political scientist Graham T. Allison to describe an apparent tendency towards war when an emerging power threatens to displace an existing great power as a regional or international hegemon.

Who is the greatest historian of all time?

Herodotus was born a Persian subject sometime between 490 and 484 B.C. in Halicarnassus, in southwestern Asia Minor. He died in the Greek colony of Thurii, in southern Italy, around 425 B.C. In Thurii, he wrote much of The History.

Is Thucydides difficult?

Most people find Thucydides quite challenging. Some narrative sections do flow fairly easily, and then wham!

How is Thucydides important?

Why is Thucydides important? Thucydides is the author of History of the Peloponnesian War, a sweeping contemporary account of the nearly three-decade conflict between Athens and Sparta for dominance of the Greek world. The eight-volume work is regarded as one of the finest works of history ever written.

What was the result of the Peloponnesian War?

The Peloponnesian War ended in victory for Sparta and its allies, and led directly to the rising naval power of Sparta. However, it marked the demise of Athenian naval and political hegemony throughout the Mediterranean.

What is the meaning of Thucydides?

a person who is an authority on history and who studies it and writes about it.

Where did Thucydides live most of his life?

Thucydides’ Life. His father’s name was Olorus, and his family was from Thrace in northeastern Greece, where Thucydides owned gold mines that likely financed his historical work. He was born in the Athenian suburb of Halimos and was in Athens during the plague of c.430 B.C., a year after the war began.

What did Thucydides write about the politics of war?

Thucydides is careful to note that at times he records only the gist of what was said, or what he thinks should have been said. The greatest of these speeches, such as the Athenian leader Pericles ’ oration for his city’s war dead, offer lasting insight into the politics of war and the complexities of human nature.

Where was Thucydides located during the Peloponnesian War?

Thucydides and the History of the Peloponnesian War. At the time, Athens was a great sea power with a democratic political system and innovative leadership that made it a formidable force. Sparta, located in the Peloponnese (the southern peninsula of mainland Greece), was most powerful as a land force.

What did Thucydides mean by fear, honor, and interest?

Fear, honor, and interest are irresistible impulses felt by all political communities; the Athenians are thus like all others overcome by the desire for empire; and none who can acquire has yet been dissuaded by argument that it is unjust to do so (I.75–76.2). According to the Athenians, interest compels and excuses no less than fear.