Herodotus was a Greek historian whose work encompassed Western civilization involving conflicts between Greece and the Persian Empire. There were many differences between the Greeks and the Persians. For instance‚ the Greeks struggled to find freedom during 480 B.C – 400 B.C. They were determined to train their soldiers‚ especially Spartan warriors‚ to be brave‚ courageous‚ and strong for defensive purposes from Persian invasion. On the other hand‚ the Persians differed from the Greeks because
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After Pericles’ death‚ Thucydides foreshadows the plight of all later leaders‚ noting they were unable to rule the people as Pericles had‚ instead they “managed all these affairs in the opposite way” and “resorted to handing over affairs to the people’s pleasure” (2.65)‚ resulting in frequent missteps. Although this is presented to the reader‚ they still search for hope as the later leaders struggle to find the perfect balance of rationality and wisdom Pericles had achieved. There are frequent similarities
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Pericles’ Funeral Oration Why do we fight wars if they just cause death and sorrow? This famous speech was written by Thucydides‚ but given by Pericles sometime during Athens’ Pelponnesian War. This kind of speech was generally given at a mass funeral‚ to honor many who had died fighting in the war. Typically‚ funeral speeches at that time were very somber and mournful‚ but Pericles changed that. In this speech‚ he created this idea of national pride and faith in society‚ by using many hopeful
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Thucydides has a very realist perception of looking at human nature. He believed that men are only cruel and only concerned with their self-interest. The pursuit of self-interest and greed are the true driving forces behind why decisions are made. The greed that lies within man`s heart is why he relies solely on self-interest because he thinks more about what he is getting from something then how that decision if affecting others. Unless‚ he is directly affected though the impact of the others. Thucydides
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As I read both exports of Thucydides and Herodotus they go back and forth with the question that was given for the assignment‚ is war good or bad. When I first thought on the topic I was leaning more to the good side‚ but I re-read my notes and both exports and realized that war is actually bad. Not only for the two nations that are fighting but for all nations‚ and cities neighboring those two. It’s bad because it makes rulers and other high ranks do things that are unpredictable. Both of these
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written by Herodotus Herodotus writes his histories with an important perspective. This perspective of course is also bias because these events that he documents are events that are happening during his life. They are not far and removed from him. This is a good thing for the future historians and students that can have a good idea of both the things that took place in our history‚ and yet is also slightly inaccurate in the way that they reflect his opinions of what he sees. Herodotus starts this
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expulsion of the Alcmaeonidae family including Pericles and the retraction of the Megarian Decree‚ threatening war if the demands were not met. The obvious purpose of these proposals was the instigation of a confrontation between Pericles and the people; this event‚ indeed‚ would come about a few years later. At that time‚ the Athenians unhesitatingly followed Pericles’ instructions. In the first legendary oration Thucydides puts in his mouth‚ Pericles advised the Athenians not to yield to their opponents’
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Thucydide rightfully finds fault with Athen’s inability to represent facts and it’s tendency to act based on disillusioned ideology on an overarching political scale. He does not make claims of political corruption or voter fraud like scandals of the modern day do. He doesn’t view the notion of voting as flawed within itself; he does however attribute problems to the mindsets of Athenian citizens as well as on the athenian statesmen. From reading I would describe Athenian politics at this time as
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Thucydides vs Plato Thucydides and Plato had contrasting ways in their approach on the good life. Thucydides displays empirical thinking in his studies of human nature and behavior during the Peloponnesian War and Plato displays normative thinking in his books and dialogs in particular "The Republic" Plato views a good life on the ideals that a person has reached happiness. When a person is in a state where they have no desires because they have all love in their life. He believed this
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The historic account by Herodotus covered the plan of Xerxes‚ how he expressed his plan‚ how his people reacted to his plan‚ and the battle itself. Xerxes gathered his nobles together and outlined the plan that he had for attacking the Spartans as a way to get revenge on them for the wicket things that they had done‚ something that Darius was not able to do during his lifetime. Although‚ in the end‚ the Persians won‚ it was not a victory of which they should have been proud. This is evident by the
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