A New History of the Peloponnesian War

This new study by a respected historian provides a unique narrative of the Peloponnesian War, a monumental conflict between Athens and Sparta that raged for 27 years across the Greek world. The conflict s resulting destruction of cities, mass enslavements, and loss of human life in short, the horrors of war bears strong resemblance to the violence of modern war from the Western front to Vietnam. Despite these common factors, little attention has been paid to the contemporary nature of the Peloponnesian War, and its impact on the society and culture of the time.

Incorporating an original interpretation of how and why the war developed, and a perceptive analysis of its conduct, Tritle weaves in the contemporary evidence of Aristophanes and other dramatists to illustrate how war affected the average Athenian. He discusses the effect of the violence on both the individual and society, in the light of modern understanding of the impact of the brutality of war. He also describes how, despite the conflict, Athens witnessed a blossoming of culture and intellectual achievement, including the plays of Sophocles and Euripides, and the philosophical questioning of Socrates.

List of illustrations.

Maps.

Abbreviations.

Chronology.

Acknowledgements.

Preface.

Prelude – a band of brothers.

1. From this the Corinthians developed their bitter hatred for the Athenians .

2. Give the Greeks their freedom .

3. Our city is an education to Greece .

4. War is a violent teacher .

5. Spindles would be worth a lot .

6. Weeping for joy .

7. The strong do what they have the power to do .

8. What of us then who for our children must weep?

9. The whole of Hellas against Athens .

10. Ships gone don t know what to do .

11. Athens is taken .

12. Here s to the noble Critias!

13. Epilogue.

14. Appendix I: A Note on Sources.

15. Appendix II: Who s Who in the Peloponnesian War.

16. Appendix III: A Peloponnesian War Glossary.

Bibliography.

Lawrence A. Tritle is Professor of History at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. He has previously taught at Loyola University, Chicago and UCLA as visiting Professor of History. He is the author or editor of eight books on Greek history, including Phocion the Good (1988) and From Melos to My Lai (2000), as well as numerous articles on various aspects of the ancient world. He has served on the editorial board of the Ancient History Bulletin (1996 2003) and as president of the International Plutarch Society (1997–1999).

"Tritle′s overall aim is to make the content and context of the Peloponnesian War more accessible to those unfamiliar with classics, and on the whole I believe he succeeds. His tone throughout is quite relaxed...but for those unfamiliar with classical Greek history and/or the Peloponnesian war Tritle′s book is a good starting place." ( Bryn Mawr Classical Review, December 2010)

"Recommended. Undergraduate libraries and above". (Choice, 1 November 2010)