Thucydides: The Infamous Peloponnesian War

Thucydides, a known historian during the time, described and analyzed the motives of the infamous Peloponnesian War. The war was between two powerful city-states: Athens and Sparta. The conflict arose due to excessive power. The Athenians were optimistic that they were the driving force that led Greece and all of its city-states. Specifically, the historian focuses on the funeral oration presented by Pericles. Pericles, ironically, doesn’t display sorrow but displays comfort and proud of what each individual has contributed to Athens. For Pericles, it wasn’t about the tragic fatalities but about courage and patriotism. Pericles believes in Athens and knows that this city-state possesses many freedoms and opportunities for success and peace.
This piece is crucial in Thucydides work as it showcases many themes and messages and how they connect to the big-picture of life and civilization. The theme of this document is the democratic nature of the city-state because it displays what Athens has to offer as well as how civilians are willing to represent the state in return.
Athens is uniquely different from the other city-states in that the political system is original and portrayed as a system by the people. Pericles believes that the constitution of Athens “does not copy the laws of neighbouring states” but instead is “a pattern to others” (pg.
Athenians didn’t mind the influx of foreigners. Pericles asserts that civilians “throw open our city to the world” and “never … excludes immigrants from any opportunity of learning and observing” (pg. 38). Despite all the war going on between the Athenians and Spartans, their doors were still open. Their neighbors would be dubious of having foreigners in their land. The Athenians are in favor of spreading Athenian culture to other groups. Not only do the Athenians want a democratic society, but they also want the democratic ideals to be applied to