Thucydides

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian war

Famed Greek historian and military general, Thucydides, completed History of The Peloponnesian War in 411 BCE. The text is also referred to as Histories. It is a major work both in terms of volumes (eight in total) and prestige (it's considered one of the first history books). Histories has inspired countless stories, from Shakespearean plays to the major motion picture, Sparta (2006). The work is notable for its analysis of the human causes of war and for being one of the first texts in human history to attribute warring impulses to human choices and temperament, rather than divine ordinance. The Peloponnesian War lasted from 431 to 404 BCE. It was fought between the Greek city-state of Sparta and the Greek city-state of Athens. Thucydides strive to maintain an impartial voice, and speaks of himself in the third person. Thucydides writes that he collected much of his information while travelling to various battles during the war. His peripatetic experience came about because of a failed rescue mission under his command, which led to his exile from Athens for 20 years. In fact, Thucydides did not return to Athens until the war ended in 404 BCE. The Histories only records the war until 411 BCE. The work has eight books.