Thucydides introduction

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Introduction to Thucydides D Posker-Hill History Extension

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Transcript of Thucydides introduction

Page 1: Thucydides introduction

Introduction to ThucydidesD Posker-HillHistory Extension

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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 his Work

Use of evidence

Analysis

Judgement

“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

Claims of “scientific” approachCollating 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

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.

Evidence Interpretation History

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Analysis

Military Background

Historiographyi.e. dealing with Homes

Exile and Connections

Thuc., History of the Peloponnesian Wars, 1.10.18-40.

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Set Speeches

Sophist BackgroundAre 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?

Purposes of

history over time

Aims and purposes

of Thucydides

Changing aims and purposes Changing

role of history

Present

the

‘greatest’

war

Post-Exile bias?

No longer

‘story’

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How has history been constructed and

recorded over time? Via Thucydides

Forms of historical communication

Written

Types of history in Thucydides

Political

Economic

Military

Where do women fit?

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How to study Thucydides…

Context

Type of history/research focus

Aims/purposes

Methodology/ies

How their work has changed from previous/later work incl. critics