The History of the Peloponnesian War

The History of the Peloponnesian War is a book by Thucydides, first published around 411 BCE. This seminal work recounts the conflict between Athens and Sparta in the fifth century BCE, offering a detailed and chronological narrative of the political, military, and social dynamics of the war.

As both a general and historian, Thucydides presents an unflinching and methodical analysis of human nature, power, and ambition, stripping events of myth and divine causality to focus instead on rational motives and political realism. His emphasis on eyewitness accounts, speeches, and critical inquiry established a new standard for historical writing in the Western tradition.

Beyond its immediate historical significance, the book has served as a foundational text in the study of international relations, political theory, and military strategy, influencing thinkers from antiquity to the modern age. Its themes of democracy, imperialism, civil strife, and the fragility of power remain strikingly relevant. This translation by Richard Crawley was originally published in 1874.