History of the Peloponnesian War

Books

• 1
  Book 1 479–431 BC

  The Archaeology: Thucydides reconstructs Greek history from the Trojan War to his own time, establishing that the Peloponnesian War is the greatest conflict yet. He describes his method and presents the speeches that led Athens and Sparta to war.

  580 lines
• 2
  Book 2 431–428 BC

  The first years of the war. Plataea is besieged. Pericles delivers the Funeral Oration — the most famous statement of Athenian democratic ideals. Then the plague strikes Athens, and Pericles himself dies.

  464 lines
• 3
  Book 3 428–425 BC

  Mytilene revolts from Athens. The Athenians debate whether to massacre the population — Cleon argues for, Diodotus against. A ship is sent to countermand the order. It arrives just in time. Plataea falls.

  470 lines
• 4
  Book 4 425–422 BC

  Civil war in Corcyra — Thucydides' most devastating analysis of how war corrupts language and morality. Athens purifies Delos. Demosthenes campaigns in western Greece.

  531 lines
• 5
  Book 5 422–415 BC

  Brasidas marches north and captures Amphipolis — Thucydides' own command. The historian is exiled for his failure. Cleon and Brasidas both die at Amphipolis. The Peace of Nicias follows.

  391 lines
• 6
  Book 6 415–413 BC

  The Melian Dialogue: Athens demands Melos surrender. The Melians appeal to justice. The Athenians reply that the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must. Melos is destroyed.

  391 lines
• 7
  Book 7 413 BC

  The Sicilian Expedition. Athens sends a massive fleet to conquer Syracuse. Alcibiades is recalled to face charges and defects to Sparta. Nicias dithers. The siege begins.

  363 lines
• 8
  Book 8 412–411 BC

  The destruction of the Athenian expedition in Sicily. The fleet is trapped in the harbour. The army retreats overland and is annihilated. Nicias surrenders and is executed. The narrative breaks off in 411 — Thucydides never finished.

  398 lines