Athenian Defeat

I. Peloponnesian War

A. First event for which we have an analytical history

1. Thucydides develops the study of history

2. key ideas

a. humans (polis) are the authors of their own history

b. analytical research into actions and consequences

c. history is cyclical, so you can learn from the past

3. the question for him and us is what we can learn from this war

B. Origins of war

1. who has influence over Megara and Potidaea?

2. larger issue: who can dictate terms over his rivals?

3. Pericles argues for a "stand firm" policy--memories of the Persian Wars

C. Athenian confidence reflected in Pericles' "funeral oration."

1. what is the line between confidence and foolishness?

II. The Sorrows of War
A. Athenian strategy

1. defensive on land

2. offensive by sea

3. plague decimates Athens [430]

B. Cynical attacks on wavering allies

1. the fate of Melos [416]

C. The strange career of Alcibiades

1. divisive personality

2. Alcibiades defects to Sparta

3. Disastrous Sicilian campaign [413]

4. Alcibiades returns to a divided Athens

D. Athens repeatedly refuses peace

1. consistently aggressive both after defeat and victory

2. what this says about democratic government

3. Athens is decisively defeated and governed by "Thirty Tyrants"

III. Intellectual Crisis of Defeat

A. New questions in a time of war and defeat   

1. Thucydides looks for answers in analytic history

2. Socrates looks for answers in analytic philosophy

B. The democracy looks for vengeance

1. trial and death of Socrates [399]