Thuycidides



=== Thucydides was the greatest historian of the fifth century (Pearson 67). He recorded the Pelopenesian War and he was a general in the Athenian Army (Lenman 914). Thucydides was born in 460 B.C. and died at the age of sixty in 400 B.C. In his long life span he accomplished many great things. === === Thucydides came generally from a rich family (“Thucydides”). His family was part of an aristocracy, which is a type of government ruled by a few noble families, and he was born an Athenian citizen (“Thucydides” 271). To be an Athenian citizen he needed to be born in Athens, own land, and be an adult which is eighteen years old, and he was able to reach that. Later on Thucydides became a general in the Athenian army like the prior general Militades whom he was related to. He led his troops into the Pelopenesian War against Sparta. He lost the battle and the democratic government kicked him out of his spot in the army and out of Athens’ (“Thucydides”). This was only one of his accomplishments in his life time. === === Also, Thucydides is well-known for recording the Pelopenesian War. The War began in 431 B.C. and ended in 401 B.C. (“Thucydides” 271). Throughout that time he recorded what he saw analytical approach. Meaning he recorded the war from a point of view where he was only stating the facts from what he saw (Lenman 914). To qrite one of his famous books he talked to survivors of both sides in order to gain facts. He also visited battlefields to say what he saw on them. Thucydides reported to speeches as a way of showing opposing viewpoints and reasons for certain actions in war (“Thucydides” 271). Most of what we know from the Pelopenesian war comes from Thucydides book (“Thucydides”). === === Thucydides is so well known today due to his accomplishments in historical advances.One of his methods we now use today are getting facts from reliable, trustworthy sources (“Thucydides”). Also, Thucydides had come up with real reasons why things had happened. Herodotus had come up with the theory that everything happened from fate ad was from the gods (“Thucydides”). Lastly, he used events in the war to figure out the way people acted the way they do (“Thucydides”). === === Thucydides wasn’t only a great historian of the fifth century, but he taught us about the Athenian Army, Pelopenesian War, and ideas we use today. Through the book The History of the Pelopenesian War he showed us what life was like and how people acted. He came up with many great ideas that were daring like coming up with reasons not from gods. In his long years lived from 460 to 400 B.C. he achieved many things we use every day without knowing. ===

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 * Citations:**
 * Lenman, Ed., Bruce. //Dictionary of World History//. New York : Larousse, 1995. 914. Print. **
 * Pearson, Anne. //Ancient Greece//. London, New York, Melbourne, Munich, Delhi: DK Publishing Inc., 2004. 67. Print. **
 * Vatai, Frank L. "Thucydides ." //World Book//. 2006. 19. 2006. Print. **
 * [|www.ancientgreece.com/s/people/Thucydides] **