The Peloponnesian War
by Donald Kagan · first published 2003
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For three decades in the fifth century b.c. the ancient world was torn apart bya conflict that was as dramatic, divisive, and destructive as the world wars of the twentieth century: The Peloponnesian War. Donald Kagan, one of the worldrsquo;s most respected classical, political, and military historians, here presents a new account of this vicious war of Greek against Greek, Athenian against Spartan. The Peloponnesian War is a magisterial work of history written for general readers, offering a fresh examination of a pivotal moment in Western civilization. With a lively, readable narrative that
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…https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/virgils-aeneid/id38423... There is also the Harvard class, the Ancient Greek Hero, which may help. https://online-learning.harvard.edu/course/ancient-greek-her... Thucydides The Peloponnesian War has great parallels and lessons. In the middle of the war, some idiots ( Alcibiades) decide to attack Sicily because it was going to be easy and the war will pay for itself; they get their asses kicked.…
on “Howard University’s removal of classics is a spiritual catastrophe” ↗If you're interested in lectures I can recommend The Peloponnesian War by Kenneth Harl published by The Great Courses (also available on Audible). It's one of the best lecture series I've listened to in any subject. https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/peloponnesian-war
on “How to Roman Republic 101” ↗A rather authoritative reference point here is Donald Kagan's "The Peloponnesian War", which has been generally well regarded over the past two decades. Paul Rahe's recent book also seems well documented. Here are a couple of reviews to get you started: https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2021/2021.03.44/…
on “Spartans Were Losers” ↗…hunger for conquest. Thucydides’s history portrays the Spartans as reluctant to go to war and often more merciful than their more liberal-minded opponents." As Donald Kagan writes in his book about the Peloponnesian War, this was very likely self interested restraint - the entire basis of their economy was the exploitation of the Helots, and there was a fear that battles of conquest would have resulted in a revolt back…
on “In Defense of Sparta” ↗wow, amazing coincidence since I was just reading earlier today about the 425BCE Battle of Pylos in Donald Kagan's The Peloponnesian War. and that battle was a thousand years after this burial! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Pylos
on “Rare Minoan sealstone in the treasure-laden tomb of a Bronze Age Greek warrior” ↗""" The Outbreak of the Peloponnesian War Hardcover – August 31, 1969 by Donald Kagan (Author) Kagan takes issue with Thucydides' view that the war was inevitable, that the rise of the Athenian Empire in a world with an existing rival power…
on “Stripe Press” ↗