The Case for War
This city-state, a Spartan ally, gave a speech in Book 1 accusing the Spartans of being "backward" and "un-innovative" compared to the restless Athenians.
Who are the Corinthians?
Essay Tip: Use the Corinthian speech to show that Sparta felt forced into war to keep their allies' respect and protect their own status.
This person urged the Spartans not to "be carried away by the complaints of our allies" and warned that Athens was a far wealthier and more powerful naval power than they realized.
Who is Archidamus?
Essay Tip: Archidamus provides the "pragmatic" view: bravery isn't enough; you need money, ships, and a plan to win a long war.
In this famous speech, Pericles praised the Athenian democratic system, claiming it served as "an education to Hellas".
What is the Funeral Oration?
Essay Tip: Supporters would use this speech to show Pericles as a visionary who inspired citizens to love their city and its values.
This event in the second year of the war caused the Athenians to blame Pericles for their misery and temporarily remove him from office.
What is the Plague of Athens?
Essay Tip: Opponents would argue that Pericles' strategy of crowding everyone into the city directly caused this catastrophe.
Thucydides famously states that this was the "truest cause" of the war.
What is the "Growth of Athenian Power" (or Thucydides Trap)?
Essay Tip: Use this for your Sparta essay: the specific "grievances" (Potidaea, etc.) didn't matter as much as the structural fear of Athens.
The Corinthians famously described this city’s citizens as being "born into the world to take no rest themselves and to give none to others".
What is Athens?
Essay Tip: This quote highlights the perceived "Athenian character"—dynamic, aggressive, and never satisfied—which Spartans feared would eventually destroy them if not stopped.
Archidamus warned that the Spartans should not go to war based on this "unreliable" factor, but should instead prepare their resources first.
What is Hope (or Emotion)?
Essay Tip: Archidamus argues that Spartan "slowness" is actually "wisdom," preventing them from rushing into a disaster they can't finish.
Pericles’ primary war strategy involved abandoning the Athenian countryside and moving the entire population here.
What is behind the Long Walls?
Essay Tip: This shows his strategic genius—he knew Athens couldn't beat Sparta on land, so he played to their strength: the sea.
Opponents would say Pericles was heartless for forcing the farmers of Attica to watch from the city walls while the Spartans did this.
What is Burning their farms (or Ravaging the land)?
Essay Tip: This highlights the "emotional" cost of his strategy; a leader who ignores his people's suffering might be seen as "bad" or out of touch.
Thucydides contrasts Pericles with his successors, who he says were more interested in this than in the safety of the state.
What is Personal Ambition (or Private Gain/Popularity)?
Essay Tip: Use this to defend Pericles: he may have been "bad" in some ways, but he was far better than the greedy leaders who came after him.
This Spartan gave a short, blunt speech at the first congress, arguing that while others might have long words, Sparta had been wronged and must act immediately without further talk.
Who is Sthenelaidas?
Essay Tip: He represents the "Spartan honor" argument: a great power cannot sit by while its allies are harmed without looking weak.
During the debate at Sparta, Athenian envoys argued they deserved their empire because they did the most to defeat this foreign power decades earlier.
Who are the Persians?
Essay Tip: The Athenians use this to justify their power as "earned," making the Spartan call for war seem like simple jealousy rather than justice.
Thucydides states that Pericles was able to lead the people because of his "unquestionable" quality of being "above" this common vice.
What is Corruption (or Bribery/Money-seeking)?
Essay Tip: Pericles' personal integrity allowed him to tell the people hard truths without them thinking he had an ulterior motive.
Pericles himself admitted that Athens had become "like" one of these, which might have been "unjust to take," but was "unsafe to let go".
What is a Tyranny/Empire?
Essay Tip: Critics would argue Pericles turned Athens into a bully state that relied on fear rather than justice.
This is the city where Thucydides was from, though he was eventually exiled.
What is Athens?
The Peloponnesian allies argued that the war was necessary because Athens had turned the Delian League from a voluntary alliance into this.
What is an Empire (or Tyranny)?
Essay Tip: This is a core Spartan justification: they were "liberators of Hellas" fighting against Athenian "slavery."
The Athenians warned the Spartans that war is often governed by this, making it impossible to predict how long it will last or how it will end.
What is Chance (or Fortune/Accident)?
Essay Tip: This is a great "realist" argument for peace: once you start a war, you lose control over its outcome.
In his final speech, Pericles argues that an individual's prosperity is worthless if this is "brought to ruin".
What is the City (or the State/the Public Interest)?
Essay Tip: Pericles is a leader who prioritizes the "greater good," even when it causes individual suffering (like the loss of farms).
Thucydides observes that under Pericles, Athens was "in name a democracy, but in fact the government of its..."
What is "...First Citizen" (or one man)?
Essay Tip: Opponents would argue he was essentially a dictator who manipulated the people through his great oratory.
Thucydides says his history is not meant to be a "prize essay" for a moment, but rather this.
What is "a possession for all time" (or all eternity)?
According to the Corinthians, this is the "quickest way of losing the sweets of repose" for those who wish to remain quiet while being injured.
What is Inactivity (or failing to act)?
Essay Tip: Use this to analyze the "slippery slope" argument: if Sparta doesn't fight now, they will eventually lose the peace they are trying to protect.
Archidamus argued that because Athens was so far away and had a superior navy, this Spartan strategy would not actually end the war quickly.
What is Attacking Attica (Invasion of the land)?
Essay Tip: Archidamus correctly predicted the war would last a generation; use this to show the "rational" reasons to vote against war.
Thucydides notes that Pericles didn't "humor" the people, but was able to do this to them when they were over-confident or too discouraged.
What is Restrain (or Control/Check) them?
Essay Tip: This is the definition of a "good leader" for Thucydides: someone who leads the public, rather than being led by public opinion.
This was the primary emotion the Athenian public felt toward Pericles when they fined him, as they blamed him for the "misfortunes" that had "befallen them".
What is Anger (or Resentment)?
Essay Tip: A leader whose policies lead to such widespread death and loss can be analyzed as "bad" because he lost the consent and trust of the governed.
Thucydides believes that because this remains constant, similar events to those in his history will happen again in the future.
What is Human Nature?
Essay Tip: This is relevant to both essays: the motivations of fear, honor, and interest drive all political decisions, then and now.