INTRODUCTION
“ […] the first page of Thucydides is, in my opinion, the commencement of real history. All preceding narrations are so intermixed with fable, that philosophers ought to abandon them, to the embellishments of poets and orators.” .Already this quotation by David Hume – one of the most distinguished philosophers of empiricism – gives us a feeling of the great value of Thucydides works. Thucydides documented the History of the Peloponnesian War in an unprecedented objectivity. On the basis of these works he is still acclaimed as the founder of political historiography. Works which were storied as a work of a lifetime. The fact that Thucydides’ ‘History of the Peloponnesian War’ stands still so powerful in historiography let it seems consequential that long-range of later historians engaged with his works. On my work for this essay I considered works of these interrogative historians and took advantage of their qualified commentaries on Thucydides. With whose approaches I will assess Thucydides as a human and historian. I will pick up questions other commentarial historians and make use of those to describe the aftermath and importance of Thucydides works as well as to place it within its context of the development of historical writing.
MAIN PART - HIS WAY OF BEING
The decision that Thucydides wrote his works is just as notable than the power to adhere a lifelong to this difficult project in spite of all external disasters. This fact certainly establishes the question on: who was this man, Thucydides? And what was his intention to write ‘The History of the Peloponnesian War’? For David Cartwright, who started his Introduction on Thucydides’ Life with the words “Thucydides, the Athenian historian, records that he lived through the whole of the Peloponnesian War and was of an age to understand what was happening.” , one important question emphasized. And this was about Thucydides age while he started with his works. There are a lot of attempts ...
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. His way of being
3. His way of writing
4. Thucydides works
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores the historical significance and methodological innovation of Thucydides, specifically examining how his approach to documenting the Peloponnesian War established the foundations of political historiography and a scientific, objective standard for historical writing.
- Analysis of Thucydides' personal background and motivation.
- Evaluation of Thucydides' unique, objective writing style.
- Comparison of Thucydides' methodology with contemporary historians like Herodotus.
- Examination of the structural composition of "The History of the Peloponnesian War".
- Assessment of Thucydides' lasting influence on political thought and historiography.
Excerpt from the book
HIS WAY OF WRITING
If a historian take the statement ‘ktéma eis aeí (estate for all times)’ as a claim to himself – how Thucydides did – it casts a light of his way of writing. Also his own proposal – to acquire the whole war and to report on it – testifies to the adoption that Thucydides didn’t write for a current audience. Just as the fact that he totally postponed himself behind his work. Further manifestations that he didn’t write for getting applause were described by T. J. Luce through Thucydides criticism on Herodotus’ way of writing. For that he quoted from Thucydides’ works. “Possibly the absence of the story-telling element in my history may make it less entertaining … But my work is a possession for all time, not a showpiece designed to catch the applause of the moment.” But not only the fact that Thucydides didn’t write for an audience distanced himself from the other ancient writers in that time. Different, for example, than Herodotus, he wrote in a really strict and modern way, what was very extraordinary in that time. Furthermore Thucydides focused on the reality. Another difference to Herodotus; he strictly separated between what is real and what is mythology. David Cartwright for example underlined this sharp distinction that way “ […] Thucydides analyzed human events in strictly human terms; he never fell back on the gods as a convenient means of explaining phenomena whose causes are obscure.” To regard Thucydides and his style of writing it is of fundamental importance to watch his historical antagonists such as Herodotus whom I still mentioned a few lines above. Often they and their works are recorded as totally different.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides a contextual overview of Thucydides' importance to historiography and sets the essay's intent to evaluate his historical methods.
His way of being: Examines Thucydides' personal life, background, and the factors that enabled his commitment to chronicling the long duration of the war.
His way of writing: Analyzes the unique, objective, and modern style of Thucydides, distinguishing it from the narrative approaches of his contemporaries.
Thucydides works: Details the structural composition of his historical monographs and the significance of his inclusion of speeches as a method of historical explanation.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the legacy of Thucydides, emphasizing his role as the 'Father of political historiography' and his enduring impact on historical standards.
Keywords
Thucydides, Peloponnesian War, Historiography, Political historiography, Objectivity, Herodotus, Ancient Greece, Historical method, Historical writing, Political thought, Ancient history, Athens, Sparta.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this essay?
The essay focuses on Thucydides and his work 'The History of the Peloponnesian War', examining his role as a pioneering historian.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The themes include Thucydides' personal background, his objective approach to recording history, his methodology, and his influence on later historiography.
What is the main goal of the research?
The goal is to assess Thucydides as both a human and a historian, evaluating why his work remains a benchmark in historical writing.
Which scientific method is attributed to Thucydides?
He is noted for his political historiography, his fierce concentration on factual events, and his strict separation of reality from mythology.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The body covers his life (his way of being), his unique literary and research style, a structured overview of his books, and a comparative analysis with his contemporary, Herodotus.
Which keywords best describe the work?
Key terms include Thucydides, Peloponnesian War, objectivity, political historiography, and historical method.
How did Thucydides' personal estate influence his historical work?
His Thracian estate provided him with the financial and practical facility to continue his research and writing even after his exile from Athens in 424 BC.
Why does the author focus on the use of speeches in Thucydides' work?
The speeches are analyzed as an essential ingredient of Thucydides' method, used to present different political perspectives and provide a more accurate picture of the historical events.
How does the author address the criticism regarding Thucydides' objectivity?
The author argues that while manipulation is possible, Thucydides' stated intent for maximal objectivity and his frank admission about the difficulty of reconstructing exact speech transcripts suggest a serious commitment to accuracy.
- Quote paper
- Daniel Traina (Author), 2008, The Historian Thucydides - The History of the Peloponnesian War (c. 400 BC), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/160674
