History of the Peloponnesian War is Thucydides’s analytical and detailed account of the conflict between Athens and Sparta (431–404 BCE). Athenian general turned historian, Thucydides eschewed myth in favor of political realism and eyewitness reporting. His work offers enduring insights into power, leadership, hubris, and the causes of war. Unlike Herodotus, Thucydides focuses on causality and human nature, laying the groundwork for political science and military history. His rigorous style and unflinching honesty make this a masterpiece of ancient historiography.
