Thucydides
- Born:
- c. 460 BC, Alimos, Attica, Greece (estimated)
- Died:
- c. 400 BC, Unknown Location (estimated)
- Nationality:
- Athenian
- Profession(s):
- Historian, Athenian General
Early Life and Education
- Origin was from the deme of Halimous.
- Little is definitively known about his early education.
- Possibly a student of Anaxagoras or other prominent intellectuals of the time.
- Family connections to notable figures such as Miltiades and Cimon.
Career and Major Achievements
- Served as a strategos (general) in the Peloponnesian War.
- Commanded an Athenian fleet in the Thraceward region during the war.
- Exiled from Athens in 424 BC after failing to prevent the capture of Amphipolis by the Spartans.
- Spent his exile researching and writing his history of the Peloponnesian War.
Notable Works
- History of the Peloponnesian War: A detailed account of the war between Athens and Sparta. In effect, this comprehensive history is the basis of any modern 'thucydides biography' and its impact.
Legacy and Impact
Thucydides is considered one of the greatest historians of antiquity. His emphasis on objectivity, factual accuracy, and causal analysis profoundly influenced subsequent historical writing. He is recognized for pioneering a rationalistic approach to history, focusing on human agency and political realities rather than divine intervention.