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The History of the Peloponnesian War view larger size

The History of the Peloponnesian War

Revised Edition

Thucydides - Author

Rex Warner - Translator

M. I. Finley - Introduction by

M. I. Finley - Notes by

Paperback | $17.00 | add to cart | view cart
ISBN 9780140440393 | 656 pages | 30 Sep 1954 | Penguin Classics | 5.07 x 7.79in | 18 - AND UP
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Summary of The History of the Peloponnesian War Summary of The History of the Peloponnesian War Reviews for The History of the Peloponnesian War An Excerpt from The History of the Peloponnesian War

The enduring account of the clash between two great powers

Written four hundred years before the birth of Christ, this detailed contemporary account of the struggle between Athens and Sparta stands an excellent chance of fulfilling the author's ambitious claim that the work "was done to last forever." The conflicts between the two empires over shipping, trade, and colonial expansion came to a head in 431 b.c. in Northern Greece, and the entire Greek world was plunged into 27 years of war. Thucydides applied a passion for accuracy and a contempt for myth and romance in compiling this exhaustively factual record of the disastrous conflict that eventually ended the Athenian empire.

Translated by Rex Warner with an Introduction and Notes by M. I. Finley

Introduction
Translator's Note

Book I
Introduction
The Dispute over Epidamnus
The Dispute over Corcyra
The Dispute over Potidaea
The Debate at Sparta and Declaration of War
The Pentecontaetia
The Allied Congress at Sparta
The Stories of Pausanias and Themistocles
The Spartan Ultimatum and Pericles' Reply

Book II
Outbreak of War
The First Year of the War
Pericles' Funeral Oration
The Plague
The Policy of Pericles
The Fall of Potidaea
The Siege of Plataea
Victories of Phormio
Thrace and Macedonia

Book III
Revolt of Mytilene
The Mytilenian Debate
The End of Plataea
Civil War in Corcyra
Operations in Sicily and Greece
End of Sixth Year of War

Book IV
Athenian Success at Pylos
Final Victory at Pylos
Further Athenian Successes
Peace in Sicily
Fighting at Megara
Brasidas in Thrace
Athenian Defeat at Delium
Brasidas Captures Amphipolis
Armistice between Athens and Sparta
End of Ninth Year of War

Book V
Battle of Amphipolis
Peace of Nicias
Negotiations with Argos
Alliance between Athens and Argos
Campaigns in the Peloponnese
Battle of Mantinea
The Melian Dialogue

Book VI
Sicilian Antiquities
Launching of the Sicilian Expedition
The Debate at Syracuse
The Athenians Arrive in Sicily
The Story of Harmodius and Aristogiton
Recall of Alcibiades
Athenian Victory before Syracuse
The Debate at Camarina
Alcibiades in Sparta
More Athenian Successes at Syracuse

Book VII
Gylippus Arrives in Syracuse
Letter of Nicias
Fortification of Decelea
Athenian Defeat in the Great Harbour
Athenian Defeat at Epipolae
Syracusan Victory at Sea
Destruction of the Athenian Expedition

Book VIII
Alarm at Athens
Beginning of Persian Intervention
The Oligarchic Coup
Athenian Victory at Cynossema
Appendices
Bibliography
Maps
Index
'Arguably the greatest historical work of classical times' Steven Weinberg, University of Texas

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