The History of the Peloponnesian War (Annotated)

The History of the Peloponnesian War (Annotated)

Enriched Edition. Historical Account of the War between Sparta and AthensBy Thucydides
Michael Caine
Listen with Sir Michael Caine™ and 1,000+ voices
Length24h 3m

About this audiobook

Thucydides' The History of the Peloponnesian War is the foundational prose account of the long struggle between Athens and Sparta, tracing its causes, campaigns, political crises, and moral consequences with austere precision. Rejecting mythic ornament and patriotic romance, Thucydides writes in a dense, analytical style, combining military narrative, political speeches, ethnographic observation, and reflections on human nature. Within the context of classical Greek historiography, the work marks a decisive movement from storytelling toward critical inquiry. Thucydides was an Athenian aristocrat, general, and eyewitness to the conflict he describes. His exile after failing to prevent the Spartan capture of Amphipolis gave him both distance and opportunity: he could gather testimony from multiple sides while reflecting on the imperial ambition, factional violence, plague, and democratic volatility that shaped his world. His experience as participant and observer informs the book's unsparing realism. This is essential reading for anyone interested in history, political thought, war, rhetoric, or the fragility of civic life. Readers seeking easy consolation will not find it here; those seeking disciplined insight into power, fear, interest, and judgment will find an enduring masterpiece. This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience. - A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes. - The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists. - A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing. - An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text. - A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings. - Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life. - Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance. - Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.

Audiobook details

Rating★★★★★ 4.6 (1.1K)
Includes Amazon
GenreHistory
Length24 hrs 3 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateMay 15, 2018
LanguageEnglish

Table of contents

1Hellenica (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5Author Biography
Show all chapters
6Chapter I. The State of Greece from the earliest Times to the Commencement of the Peloponnesian War
7Chapter II. Causes of the War - The Affair of Epidamnus - The Affair of Potidaea
8Chapter III. Congress of the Peloponnesian Confederacy at Lacedaemon
9Chapter IV. From the end of the Persian to the beginning of the Peloponnesian War - The Progress from Supremacy to Empire
10Chapter V. Second Congress at Lacedaemon - Preparations for War and Diplomatic Skirmishes - Cylon - Pausanias - Themistocles
11The Second Book.
12Chapter VI. Beginning of the Peloponnesian War - First Invasion of Attica - Funeral Oration of Pericles
13Chapter VII. Second Year of the War - The Plague of Athens - Position and Policy of Pericles - Fall of Potidaea
14Chapter VIII. Third Year of the War - Investment of Plataea - Naval Victories of Phormio - Thracian Irruption into Macedonia under Sitalces
15The Third Book.
16Chapter IX. Fourth and Fifth Years of the War - Revolt of Mitylene
17Chapter X. Fifth Year of the War - Trial and Execution of the Plataeans - Corcyraean Revolution
18Chapter XI. Year of the War - Campaigns of Demosthenes in Western Greece - Ruin of Ambracia
19The Fourth Book.
20Chapter XII. Seventh Year of the War - Occupation of Pylos - Surrender of the Spartan Army in Sphacteria
21Chapter XIII. Seventh and Eighth Years of the War - End of Corcyraean Revolution - Peace of Gela - Capture of Nisaea
22Chapter XIV. Eighth and Ninth Years of the War - Invasion of Boeotia - Fall of Amphipolis - Brilliant Successes of Brasidas
23The Fifth Book.
24Chapter XV. Tenth Year of the War - Death of Cleon and Brasidas - Peace of Nicias
25Chapter XVI. Feeling against Sparta in Peloponnese - League of the Mantineans, Eleans, Argives, and Athenians - Battle of Mantinea and breaking up of the League
26Chapter XVII. Sixteenth Year of the War - The Melian Conference - Fate of Melos
27The Sixth Book.
28Chapter XVIII. Seventeenth Year of the War - The Sicilian Campaign - Affair of the Hermae - Departure of the Expedition
29Chapter XIX. Seventeenth Year of the War - Parties at Syracuse - Story of Harmodius and Aristogiton - Disgrace of Alcibiades
30Chapter XX. Seventeenth and Eighteenth Years of the War - Inaction of the Athenian Army - Alcibiades at Sparta - Investment of Syracuse
31The Seventh Book.
32Chapter XXI. Eighteenth and Nineteenth Years of the War - Arrival of Gylippus at Syracuse - Fortification of Decelea - Successes of the Syracusans
33Chapter XXII. Nineteenth Year of the War - Arrival of Demosthenes - Defeat of the Athenians at Epipolae - Folly and Obstinancy of Nicias
34Chapter XXIII. Nineteenth Year of the War - Battles in the Great Harbour - Retreat and Annihilation of the Athenian Army
35The Eighth Book.
36Chapter XXIV. Nineteenth and Twentieth Years of the War - Revolt of Ionia - Intervention of Persia - The War in Ionia
37Chapter XXV. Twentieth and Twenty - first Years of the War - Intrigues of Alcibiades - Withdrawal of the Persian Subsidies - Oligarchical Coup d’Etat at Athens - Patriotism of the Army at Samos
38Chapter XXVI. Twenty-first Year of the War - Recall of Alcibiades to Samos - Revolt of Euboea and Downfall of the Four Hundred - Battle of Cynossema
39Analysis
40Reflection
41Memorable Quotes

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