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==Introduction==[[File: Thucydides one.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Thucydides]] __NOTOC__Ancient Greece is rightly regarded as the source of much of Western Civilization. The Greeks helped to develop democracy, philosophy, science, and drama, to name just a few of their achievements. The Greeks They are also credited with establishing the discipline of history. They were the first to record events and facts in a systematic way and did not simply rely on myth to explain the past. Perhaps the  The best-known Greek historian is Thucydides and he . He is still studied by academics, diplomats, military leaders and titans of business. The Greek is regarded as having Thucydides played a decisive influence on critical role in the development of histography. In his historical work, he formulated political theories that are still relevant to this day. His theories on power, war, and international relations are still enormously influential and used to understand current geopolitics, in the 21st century. [[File: Thucydides one.jpg|200px|thumb|left|alt text]] ====The life and work of Thucydides==Thucydides was probably born about the year 400 B.C, the exact year is not known. The sources on the life of the great historian are fragmentary and often unreliable. His father was Olorus who said to have been a member of the Athenian elite and Thucydides was born in the city of Athens. It is possible, based on his father’s name that he was descended from Thracian royalty and, indeed he was later to own a gold mine and many lands in the region<ref> Connor, W. Robert, Thucydides (Princeton: Princeton University Press 1984), p. 117</ref>. Thucydides was a skeptic and adopted a relativist approach to justice and morality, in his work and it appears that he was apparently greatly influenced by the philosophers known as the Sophists. His philosophical position is that human beings are motivated by power and needs’ and they are largely conditioned by society and their environment. In 431 BC, the Peloponnesian War broke out between Sparta and Athens, which was a brutal conflict for dominance in the Greek world (431-404 BC). Apparently, in 421 BC, Thucydides was elected a strategos or general by the Athenian popular Assembly. This would indicate that he was already an experienced military commander and was a well-known public figure. It is clear based on the reading of his later work that he was an admirer of the Athenian politician Pericles and was possibly associated with the popular party in the city. He was sent to Thrace possibly because of his connections with the region and he did have considerable influence with the Thracians. In the winter of 423 BC, the Spartans attacked the strategic city of Amphipolis, which was not far from where Thucydides and an Athenian force were based. The Athenian commander at Amphipolis sends a message for help. The Spartan commander, Brasidas was aware that Thucydides was nearby, and he offered the citizens of Amphipolis, generous terms. This clever strategy meant the Spartans were able to take the city before Thucydides arrived. When news arrived in Athens that Amphipolis was captured by the enemy there was an outcry. The Athenian Assembly voted to exile Thucydides for his perceived failure to save the city. All his life, he maintained that he simply arrived too late to save the city and it does seem that he was unfairly treated. It appears that the historian was to spend most of the rest of his life, unable to return to Athens. He was a very resourceful man and he used his status as an exile to travel throughout the Greek world and he was able to collect the eyewitness accounts of both sides in the Peloponnesian War. Moreover, he was an independently wealthy man, and this meant in his own words ‘I had leisure to observe affairs somewhat particularly’ <ref>Thucydides, 2, 5</ref>. After his exile from Athens, the sources on his life becoming even more fragmentary and unreliable. In one account it is claimed that he was permitted to return to the city of his birth and once again entered into public life. In another work, it is reported that Thucydides was murdered in Thrace. What we do know is that his great history of the Peloponnesian War ended in 411 BC. It is widely believed that this was possibly the year of his death. His work of recording the war between Athens and Sparta was continued by others. Thucydides only wrote one work and he devoted his life to it. His History of the Peloponnesian War is regarded as one of the greatest masterpieces of histography of all time and it has also been praised for its literary style. The work of Thucydides was admired by the Romans. However, after the Fall of Rome, the works of Thucydides were little read and it was only with the Renaissance that interest revived in the great history. His work was enormously influential, and it was even translated by the British philosopher Thomas Hobbes. Thucydides' history was widely regarded as the model work for all historians until the emergence of new ideas about histography, in the 19th century, popularized by among others Von Ranke. ==

==The father of scientific history==Prior to Thucydides history was no better than a collection of stories and mythsborn around the year 400 BCE. Herodotus who is widely regarded as the Father of History by many still used many stories in Ironically, the information about his work own life is fragmentary and there are many fantastical tales often unreliable. Thucydides was born in the city of Athens, and his writingsfather, Olorus, was likely a member of the Athenian elite. He did not critically analyze Based on his sources and father’s name, he appears’ to may have simply reproduced what been descended from Thracian royalty. This view is likely because when he got older he was toldowned both a gold mine and quite a bit of land in the region.<ref> Connor, W. Thucydides was much more criticalRobert, Thucydides (Princeton: Princeton University Press 1984), p. 117</ref>  Thucydides was a skeptic and he appears adopted a relativist approach to have sought out records justice and eyewitnesses morality, in his work and it appears that were contemporaneous with he was apparently greatly influenced by the philosophers known as the events that he sought to recordSophists. While it His philosophical position is common for modern historians to use reliable sourcesthat human beings are motivated by power and their needs. In 431 BC, [[What were the Athenian was causes of the first to use sources in a critical wayPeloponnesian War?|the Peloponnesian War]] broke out between Sparta and Athens. Thucydides The Peloponnesian War was determined to be objective and to take a neutral stance in his work, this was despite brutal conflict for dominance of the fact that he has been an Athenian generalGreek world (431-404 BC). In his work421 BC, Thucydides sought to be fair and to give an accurate description of what happened to was elected a strategos or general by the best of his abilityAthenian popular Assembly. In his work, This appointment suggests that he was already an experienced military commander and was a well-known public figure. It is scrupulously fair to both sides clear based on the reading of his later work that he was an admirer of the conflict Athenian politician Pericles and did not seek to prejudge was possibly associated with the popular party in the eventscity.  He frequently shows was sent to Thrace possibly because of his connections with the brutality region and stupidity of he had considerable influence with the Thracians. In the winter of 423 BC, the Spartans attacked the people strategic city of Athens Amphipolis, which was not far from where Thucydides and their elected leadersan Athenian force were based. HoweverThe Athenian commander at Amphipolis sent a message for help. The Spartan commander, Brasidas was aware that Thucydides was nearby, achieving complete objectivity and impartiality is impossible and occasionally Thucydides’ bias can be seenhe offered the citizens of Amphipolis, for example generous terms. This clever strategy meant the Spartans were able to take the city before Thucydides arrived.  When news arrived in his damning portrait of Cleon, Athens that Amphipolis was captured by the enemy there was an outcry. The Athenian politician who is portrayed as an inept demagogue <ref>Woodhead, Arthur Geoffrey. "Assembly voted to exile Thucydides' portrait of Cleonfor his perceived failure to save the city." Mnemosyne 13All his life, nohe maintained that he simply arrived too late to save the city and it does seem that he was unfairly treated. Fasc. 4 (1960): 289-317 </ref>. However, Thucydides' commitment It appears that the historian was to objectivity was crucial in spend most of the development rest of a more scientific approach his life, unable to return to histographyAthens. Another feature of Thucydides He was that a very resourceful man and he did not invoke used his status as an exile to travel throughout the gods or Greek world and he was able to collect the supernatural eyewitness accounts of both sides in his narrativethe Peloponnesian War. IndeedMoreover, many have speculated that the Athenian he was one of the first known atheists. In his workan independently wealthy man, all causation is as a result of some human volition and this meant in his own words ‘I had leisure to observe affairs somewhat particularly.’<ref>GreenwoodThucydides, 2, Emily. Thucydides and the Shaping of History. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2015), p. 113<5</ref>  After his exile from Athens, the sources on his life becoming even more fragmentary and unreliable. In one account it is claimed that he was permitted to return to the history city of his birth and once again entered into public life. In another work, it is reported that Thucydides, all explanations are down to human decisions or chancewas murdered in Thrace. For example, the bad decisions What we do know is that his great history of the Athenians, such as the attack on Syracuse are a result Peloponnesian War ended in 411 BC. It is widely believed that this was possibly the year of its moral decline, especially after the his death . His work of Pericles <ref>Thucydides, 3, 17</ef>. In his history of the great war recording the war between Athens and Sparta was continued by others. Thucydides only wrote one work and Athens, he seems he devoted his life to suggest that there are laws that govern it.  His history such of the Peloponnesian War is regarded as one of the quest greatest masterpieces of histography of all time and it has also been praised for self-interest and powerits literary style. He adopted a systematic approach to the investigation The work of Thucydides was admired by the historical phenomenonRomans. However, after the Fall of Rome, the works of Thucydides were little read and this it was an innovation. This is something only in the Renaissance that is the norm interest was revived in modern histography his work. His history was enormously influential, and much of this can be credited to it was even translated by the British philosopher Thomas Hobbes. Thucydides. [[File: Thucydides Three.jpg|200px|thumb|left|A Greek hoplite from ' history was widely regarded as the 5th century BC]]model work for all historians until the emergence of new ideas about histography, in the 19th century, popularized by among others Von Ranke. ==Great history or Great Literature==There are those who do not believe that the Greek was an objective historian. They point to the many speeches that are included in the work The father of the Athenian, the best known of which is Pericles’ ‘Funeral Oration’ <ref>scientific history====[[File:Thucydides Three.jpg|200px|thumb|left|A Greek hoplite from the 5th century BC]]Before Thucydides, 2, 35-45</ref>history was no better than a collection of stories and myths. Many historians pointHerodotus, to who is widely regarded as the fact that these speeches could not be accurate records Father of the actual words of the orators. This has led History by many, still used many to claim that the stories in his work of the Athenian is not history in the strict sense, but rather a genre of literature and there are many fantastical tales in his writings. Many have regarded Thucydides as a great writer who has revealed unparalleled insights into the nature of power He did not critically analyze his sources and the human condition <ref>Hornblower, Simon, he appears’ to have simply reproduced what he was told. Thucydides (London: Duckworth 1987)was much more critical, p. 112</ref> The historians work have inspired many other literary-minded historians down and he appears to have sought out records and eyewitnesses that were contemporaneous with the ages, especially in his events that he sought to record. While it is common for modern historians to use of speeches and literary techniquesreliable sources, including the Roman, Tacitus. ==Athenian was the first to use sources in a critical way. Thucydides was determined to be objective and the realist school of international relations==Among the key themes of the History of the Peloponnesian War are Empireto take a neutral stance in his work, war, and poweralthough he has been an Athenian general.  In his work, Thucydides had a bleak view of human nature sought to be fair and this influenced his view to give an accurate description of international relationswhat happened to the best of his ability. For himIn his work, he is scrupulously fair to both sides of the strong will always prey on the weaker conflict and did not seek to dominate themprejudge the events. This is illustrated in He frequently shows the destruction brutality and stupidity of Melos by Athens in the History people of the Peloponnesian WarAthens and their elected leaders. In his famous Melian dialogue However, the former general sets out a view achieving complete objectivity and impartiality is impossible and occasionally Thucydides’ bias can be seen, for example in his damning portrait of international relations Cleon, an Athenian politician who is portrayed as one which is anarchic and which is not governed by any sense of justice an inept demagogue.<ref>Woodhead, Arthur Geoffrey "Thucydides' portrait of Cleon." Mnemosyne 13, 5, 84no. Fasc. 4 (1960): 289-116317 </ref>.  However, Thucydides is widely seen as ' commitment to objectivity was crucial in the father development of the realist school a more scientific approach to histography. Another feature of international affairs. This privileged military power, national interests and the state. It holds Thucydides was that religion and morality he did not invoke the gods or the supernatural in his narrative. Indeed, many have no place in politics and speculated that relations between statesthe Athenian was one of the first known atheists. In his work, all causation is characterized as everyone trying to further one’s own interests at the expense a result of others, as was the case among the city-states during the Peloponnesian Warsome human volition.<ref>Greenwood, Emily. Thucydides was pessimistic about human nature and did not believe that societies could changethe Shaping of History. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2015), p. Any society that was not prepared for war and 113</ref>  In the history of Thucydides, all explanations are down to further their own interests will not survive human decisions or prosperchance. This influenced among others MachiavelliFor example, Hobbes and Rousseau. It later developed in the 19th century into the school bad decisions of thought that promoted the idea that states should be powerful and seek to dominate others in their own interests. It has been enormously influential in politics and diplomacy and remains so to this day Athenians, such as the attack on Syracuse are a result of its moral decline, especially after the death of Pericles.<ref>FordeThucydides, 3, Steven. "International realism 17</ref> In his history of the great war between Sparta and the science of politics: ThucydidesAthens, Machiavelli, and neorealismhe seems to suggest that there are laws that govern history such as the quest for self-interest and power." International Studies Quarterly 39He adopted a systematic approach to the investigation of the historical phenomenon, noand this was an innovation. 2 (1995): 141-160</ref>This is something that is the norm in modern histography and much of this can be credited to Thucydides.  ==Thucydides trap==He was Great history or Great Literature====Many historians argue that Thucydides was not an objective historian. They point to the first to really propose a theory of war, which he believed was a result of speeches that are included in the interaction of human naturework known as Pericles’ ‘Funeral Oration.’ <ref>Thucydides, national interests2, and chance events. The former general’s thesis in the History 35-45</ref> Historians have explained why these speeches could not be accurate records of the Peloponnesian War is that actual words of the war between Sparta and Athens was inevitableorators. The disgraced general believed that when These speeches make his work look more like literature than history.  Despite these problematic speeches, other historians still regarded Thucydides as a rising great writer who has revealed unparalleled insights into the nature of power such as Athens comes into contact with an established power such as Sparta that conflict is inevitable. In the words of Thucydides ‘It was the rise of Athens and the fear that this instilled in Sparta that made war inevitable’ human condition. <ref> Hornblower, Simon, Thucydides(London: Duckworth 1987), I, 22p. 112</ref>. It is inevitable that The historians such as Tacitus have even were inspired many his literary-minded histories. ====Thucydides and the rising power will seek to displace realist school of international relations====Among the existing power and this is because humans want to dominate key themes of the weaker. This has become known as History of the Peloponnesian War are Empire, war, and power. Thucydides trap, which roughly is the proposition that when had a new power emerges that it is inevitable that there is going to be a warbleak view of human nature and this influenced his view of international relations. It should be noted that it was not Thucydides who named this concept, but it was rather named after himFor him, by academics in the twentieth centurystrong will always prey on the weak and seek to dominate them. This concept based on Thucydides' thesis on is illustrated in the destruction of Melos by Athens in the origins History of the Peloponnesian War has been enormously influential among politicians and diplomats. . ==Conclusion==Thucydides has been enormously influential in histography. His objectivityIn his famous Melian dialogue, rationalism the former general sets out a view of international relations as one which is anarchic and systematic collection which is not governed by any sense of data had led him to be called justice.<ref>Thucydides, 5, 84-116</ref> Thucydides is widely seen as the Father father of Historythe realist school of international affairs. He argued that religion and morality have no place in politics. HoweverInstead, he everyone was also a great writer and his work is regarded as a literary masterpiece, which many read as they would a novel, to understand always trying to further their own interests at the human conditionexpense of others. The Athenians were one of the first to study international relations and he This view was shaped by the founder of Peloponnesian War because the ‘realist school’ which has been very important in diplomacy and politics to city-states did this daythroughout the conflict. He Thucydides was also one of the founders of political science because pessimistic about human nature and did not believe that societies could change. Any society that was not prepared for war and to further their own interests will not survive or prosper.  His views influenced writers and thinkers such as Machiavelli, Hobbes, and Rousseau. In the 19th century, it developed into the school of his analysis thought that promoted the idea that states should be powerful and seek to dominate others in their own interests. It has been enormously influential in politics and diplomacy and remains so to this day.<ref>Forde, Steven. "International realism and the science of the Peloponnesian War and his thesis on the causes of war and conflict, the ‘Thucydides trap’ is still relevant in the 21st century. politics: Thucydides, Machiavelli, and neorealism." International Studies Quarterly 39, no. 2 (1995): 141-160</ref> ====Thucydides trap====He was the first to really propose a theory of war, which he believed was a result of the interaction of human nature, national interests, and chance events. The former general’s thesis in the History of the Peloponnesian War is that the war between Sparta and Athens was inevitable. The disgraced general believed that when a rising power such as Athens comes into contact with an established power such as Sparta that conflict is inevitable. In the words of Thucydides ‘It was the rise of Athens and the fear that this instilled in Sparta that made war inevitable.’<ref> Thucydides, I, 22</ref>  He believed that it was inevitable that a rising power would seek to displace the existing power. This has been referred to as the Thucydides Trap, which roughly is the proposition that when a new power emerges that it is inevitable that there is going to be a war. It should be noted that it was not Thucydides who named this concept, but it was rather named after him, by academics in the twentieth century. ====Conclusion====Thucydides has been enormously influential in histography. His objectivity, rationalism and systematic collection of data had led him to be called the Father of History. However, he was also a great writer and his work is also regarded as a literary masterpiece, which many read as they would a novel, to understand the human condition. The Athenians were one of the first to study international relations and he was the founder of the ‘realist school’ which has been very important in understanding diplomacy and politics to this day. He was also one of the founders of political science because of his analysis of the Peloponnesian War and his thesis on the causes of war and conflict, the ‘Thucydides trap’ is still relevant in the 21st century. ====Further Reading==Further Reading==

====References====<references/> [[Category:Wikis]] [[Category:Ancient Greek History]] [[Category:Ancient History]] [[Category:Political History]]