Complete Works of Thucydides

Thucydides’ Complete Works primarily consist of The History of the Peloponnesian War, a detailed, analytical account of the conflict between Athens and Sparta (431–404 BCE). Unlike earlier historians, Thucydides emphasizes factual accuracy, political realism, and human nature’s role in history. His work covers key battles, strategic decisions, and influential speeches, including Pericles’ famous Funeral Oration and the Melian Dialogue, illustrating power struggles and moral dilemmas. He avoids myth and focuses on cause-and-effect analysis, shaping modern historiography. Though unfinished, his work remains a cornerstone of historical writing, political theory, and military analysis. Written in precise, sophisticated Greek, Thucydides' insights on war, politics, and human nature remain profoundly relevant today.