Thucydides (c. 460 BC - 395 BC)

Biographical note

Greek historian, and the author of the History of the Peloponnesian War, which recounts the 5th century BC war between Sparta and Athens.

Thucydides is generally regarded as one of the first true historians. Like his predecessor Herodotus (often called "the father of history"), Thucydides placed a high-value on autopsy, or eye-witness testimony to events, and writes about many episodes in which he himself probably took part. He also assiduously consulted written documents and interviewed participants in the events that he records. Unlike Herodotus, he did not recognize divine interventions in human affairs. Certainly he held unconscious biases — for example, to modern eyes he seems to underestimate the importance of Persian intervention — but Thucydides was the first historian who attempted something like modern historical objectivity.

More ...

Works

History of the Peloponnesian War

Other links

Creative Commons License
Works are licensed under a Creative Commons License.

The University of Adelaide Library
North Terrace
ADELAIDE SA 5005

Telephone: +61 8 8303 5372
Facsimile: +61 8 8303 4369
Email:
library@adelaide.edu.au

© 2007 The University of Adelaide
Last Modified 02/04/2007
CRICOS Provider Number 00123M
Service Charter | Copyright | Privacy | Disclaimer
Valid HTML 4.01! Valid CSS! This page conforms to current web standards. If it looks strange in your browser, it may be that you are using an outdated or non-compliant browser.