Thucydides
Who was Thucydides?
An ancient Greek historian.
What type of government did Athens have?
A democracy.
What was the main argument presented by the Athenians in the Melian Dialogue?
The Athenians argued that might makes right and that the Melians should submit to avoid destruction.
What was the Sicilian Expedition?
An Athenian military campaign to conquer Sicily during the Peloponnesian War.
What was the Battle of Amphipolis?
The Battle of Amphipolis was a significant land battle during the Peloponnesian War in 422 BCE.
What is Thucydides known for?
Writing about the Peloponnesian War.
Name one major difference between Athenian and Spartan society.
Athens focused on culture and philosophy, while Sparta emphasized military strength and discipline.
How did the Melians respond to Athenian demands?
The Melians refused, arguing for their neutrality, justice, and hope for Spartan assistance.
What were the reasons for the failure of the Sicilian Expedition?
Poor leadership, lack of resources, and underestimating Sicilian and Spartan resistance led to the failure.
Who were the main commanders in the Battle of Amphipolis?
The main commanders were Cleon for Athens and Brasidas for Sparta.
What is considered Thucydides' most important work?
History of the Peloponnesian War is considered his most important work.
Who were the primary leaders of Athens during the Peloponnesian war?
Pericles and Cleon were primary leaders of Athens during the war.
What does the Melian Dialogue reveal about Athenian goals?
It highlights Athenian imperialism and their belief in power over morality.
Who was Nicias, and what role did he play in the Sicilian Expedition?
Nicias was an Athenian general who reluctantly led the expedition and advocated against it, but ultimately commanded it to disaster.
What was the outcome of the Battle of Amphipolis?
Sparta won the battle, but both Cleon and Brasidas were killed.
Describe Thucydides' view on human nature.
He believed human nature is driven by power and self-interest, particularly in times of conflict.
What was the Delian League? What was its purpose?
The Delian League was an alliance led by Athens, originally formed to protect against Persian threats but later used to consolidate Athenian power.
Discuss the moral implications of the Melian Dialogue.
The dialogue presents a critique of realism in politics, questioning the ethics of power and dominance.
Describe the impact of the Sicilian Expedition on Athens.
The expedition drained Athens’ resources, destroyed much of its fleet, and significantly weakened its position in the war.
How did the Battle of Amphipolis affect the war's dynamics?
The battle disrupted Athenian momentum and contributed to the Peace of Nicias, although the truce was short-lived.
How did Thucydides' background influence his writing?
As a general exiled after a military failure, his firsthand experience shaped his impartial and analytical approach to history.
Compare and contrast the military strategies of Athens and Sparta.
Athens relied on naval power and long walls for defense, while Sparta utilized its superior land army and direct invasions of Athenian territory.
How is the Melian Dialogue relevant to modern politics?
It remains relevant as a discussion on the balance between power, morality, and diplomacy in international relations.
Analyze the long-term consequences of the disaster in Sicily for the Peloponnesian War.
It marked a turning point that strengthened Sparta, leading to further defeats for Athens and their eventual surrender.
Discuss the significance of Alcibiades in the context of the battles during the Peloponnesian War.
Alcibiades played a pivotal role by advocating for bold strategies, including the Sicilian Expedition, influencing the course of several battles.