"The greatest historian that ever lived." Such was Macaulay's assessment
of Thucydides (c. 460-400 BC) and his history of the Peloponnesian War,
the momentous struggle between Athens and Sparta that lasted for
twenty-seven years from 431 to 404 BC, involved virtually the whole of
the Greek world, and ended in the fall of Athens. A participant in the
war himself, Thucydides brings to his history an awesome intellect,
brilliant narrative, and penetrating analysis of the nature of power, as
it affects both states and individuals. Of the prose writers of the
ancient world, Thucydides has had more lasting influence on western
thought than all but Plato and Aristotle. This new edition combines a
masterly new translation by Martin Hammond with comprehensive supporting
material, including summaries of individual Books; textual notes; a
comprehensive analytical index; an appendix on weights, measures and
distances, money, and calendars; ten maps; an up-to-date bibliography;
and an
illuminating introduction by P.J. Rhodes.
About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has
made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the
globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to
scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other
valuable features, including expert introductions by leading
authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date
bibliographies for further study, and much more.