Thucydides and the Pentekontaetia CLAS/HIST3001 Thucydides and the Pentekontaetia

Thucydides the Man Fought in the war he describes as an admiral of the Athenian fleet Describes how he is exiled by the Athenian democracy Lives abroad for 20 years, returns and writes this history

The Peloponnesian War Book is always most important source for this conflict, often only one Written, to some extent, as a reaction against historical tradition that Herodotus represents: Far narrower in focus More 'skeptical' or 'scientific'

Introduction to the P.W. “Thucydides, an Athenian, recorded the war between the Peloponnesians and the Athenians, writing how they waged it against each other and beginning his work as soon as the war broke out in expectation that it would be a major one and notable beyond all previous wars, basing this assumption on the fact that both sides came into it flourishing in overal preparedness ... Ths was certainly the greatest disturbance to effect the Hellens and a considerable number of barbarians – one might say the majority of mankind” (1.1) 'Archaeology' follows 1.2-20

Thucydides' Claims to Accuracy “About the actions of the war, however, I considered it my responsibility to write neither as I learned from the chance informant nor according to my own opinion, but after examining what I witnessed myself and what I learned from others, with the utmost possible accuracy...” (1.22)

The Purpose of the P.W. “And the results, by avoiding patriotic storytelling, will perhaps seem the less enjoyable for listening. Yet if they are judged useful by any who wish to look at the plain truth about both past events and those that at some future time, in accordance with human nature, will recur in similar or comparable ways, that will suffice. It is apossession for all time, not a competition piece to be heard for the moment, that has been composed” (1.22).

Hidden Causes “I consider the truest cause the one least openly expressed, that increasing Athenian greatness and the resulting fear among the Lacedaemonians made going to war inevitable” (1.23). “The explicit formulation of a distinction between profound and superficial causes is arguably Thucydides' greatest single contribution to later history-writing” (Hornblower, Thucydides 65).

The Thirty-Year Peace Dated to 446/5 Represents end of 'First Peloponnesian War' (c. 460 - 445) Land-based conflict Athenian expansion into Peloponnese

The Athenian Empire After failure in Egypt, treasury of Delian League moved to Athens fear of attack? outright imperialism? Acceptance of reality? (Thuc. 1.99 p. 48) Focus of league shifts completely away from Persia ?Athens negotiates peace with Persia ('Peace of Kallias') about 450

First P.W. (1.103-106)

Building the 'Long Walls'

Athenian Tribute Lists