Book VIII
Sixteenth through twenty-first years of the war, the oligarchic revolution at Athens, Alcibiades' intrigues, and the battle of Cynossema.
40 argumentative units
- 01Authorial justification for the history
Thucydides announces that he is writing the history of the Peloponnesian War because he believes it will be great and worthy of relation, based on the preparations of both combatants and the vast scope of the conflict.
- 02Evidence of ancient Greece's weakness
Thucydides argues that ancient Greece was characterized by constant migrations, lack of commerce, absence of wall-building, and scattered populations—all indicators of a weak and disorganized society.
- 03Attica's exception to instability
Athens uniquely maintained a stable population due to its poor soil, which discouraged invasion and faction, allowing it to become a refuge and eventually a populous center.
- 04The gradual unification under the name 'Hellenes'
Thucydides traces how the name 'Hellas' and 'Hellenes' gradually spread from the descendants of Hellen in Phthiotis, providing evidence of collective identity only slowly developing.
- 05Minos and the first navy
Thucydides credits Minos with establishing the first known navy, which enabled him to control the sea, colonize islands, and suppress piracy—a crucial development for Greek unity.
- 06Piracy as a common practice
Thucydides demonstrates that piracy and brigandage were widespread and even honored in ancient times, practiced by both Greeks and barbarians, with no social disgrace attached.
- 07Persistence of primitive customs
Thucydides notes that some regions of Greece and barbarian lands still maintain customs of the ancient world, particularly regarding arms-bearing and simple dress, indicating the universality of primitive conditions.
- 08Development of walled towns
As commerce and capital increased, towns gradually moved from inland defensive positions to fortified coastal settlements, enabling trade and defense against both pirates and rival states.
- 09Evidence of Carian and Phoenician colonization
The purification of Delos revealed Carian burials, providing historical evidence that these peoples colonized the Greek islands before Minos expelled them.
- 10Minos enabling settlement
After Minos established his navy and colonized the islands, communication became safer, populations stabilized, wealth accumulated, and the Greeks eventually launched the Trojan expedition.
- 11Agamemnon's power as basis for Troy expedition
Thucydides argues that Agamemnon's personal strength and inherited power, rather than oaths alone, enabled him to raise the army against Troy, with his superior navy being the key factor.
- 12The rise of the Pelopid dynasty
Thucydides traces how Pelops brought wealth from Asia, which expanded through his descendants, allowing Agamemnon to accumulate power through inheritance and naval superiority.
- 13The Trojan armament was modest despite its fame
Thucydides argues that the famous Trojan expedition, while the greatest of its time, was actually quite small compared to modern forces, based on careful analysis of Homer.
- 14Comparison with Lacedaemon's power and appearance
Using Lacedaemon as an example, Thucydides argues that a city's physical appearance is unreliable evidence of its true power, as scattered villages can harbor great strength.
- 15Calculation of the Trojan fleet from Homer
Thucydides calculates the actual size of the Trojan expedition from Homer's account of twelve hundred ships with varying crew sizes, concluding it was surprisingly small.
- 16Instability after the Trojan War
After Troy, Greece remained unsettled with migrations and factional conflicts, delaying the development of stable states and colonial expansion.
- 17Rise of tyrannies with increasing wealth
As Greek power grew and wealth accumulated, tyrannies emerged as common forms of government, replacing hereditary monarchies and leading to expansion of naval power.
- 18Corinth's naval innovation
Thucydides credits the Corinthians with pioneering modern galley construction, which emerged from their position as a commercial hub benefiting from land and sea trade.
- 19The first recorded sea battle
The earliest naval battle in history occurred between Corinthians and Corcyraeans about 260 years before, marking the transition to naval warfare.
- 20Corinth's commercial prosperity enabling naval power
Corinth's prosperity as a commercial hub for land trade enabled it to build a navy, suppress piracy, and achieve great naval power.
- 21Later naval powers and their development
The Ionians, Samians, and others developed naval power in later periods, but even these remained limited until the Persian Wars prompted more extensive naval development.
- 22Themistocles and the Salamis fleet
It was only Themistocles' persuasion of the Athenians, prompted by the threat of Persian invasion, that led to building the first complete fleet used at Salamis.
- 23Despite limitations, navies were sources of great power
Although ancient navies were insignificant by later standards, they were the chief means of acquiring power through controlling islands and trade.
- 24Absence of significant land warfare
Large-scale land wars were absent in ancient Greece; conflicts were local and limited, with no major coalitions forming for distant conquest.
- 25Ionian power's collision with Persia
The advancing Ionian power collided with the Persian empire under Cyrus, which stopped further Greek expansion eastward by conquering coastal cities.
- 26Tyrannies as obstacles to collective power
Tyrants focused on personal safety and family advantage rather than state power, preventing great collective achievements except in Sicily.
- 27Lacedaemon's unique stability and strength
Unlike other Greek states, Lacedaemon maintained stable laws, avoided tyranny for four hundred years, and positioned itself to arrange affairs of other states.
- 28The Persian Wars as pivotal moment
The Persian invasions forced the Greeks to unite, with Sparta initially commanding, but Athens became a naval power and later led an Athenian alliance against the barbarian.
- 29The split in the Greek alliance
After repelling the Persians, the Greek alliance split into Athenian naval and Lacedaemonian military factions, leading to conflict between the two powers.
- 30Contrasting imperial policies
Lacedaemon secured subservience through oligarchies without tribute, while Athens gradually stripped allies of ships and imposed monetary contributions.
- 31Caution about historical traditions
Thucydides notes that most people accept traditions uncritically, providing examples of false beliefs about Athenian history that persist despite being demonstrably wrong.
- 32The false story of Harmodius and Aristogiton
Thucydides corrects the misconception that Hipparchus was tyrant when killed; actually Hippias held power, and the assassination was motivated by personal suspicion rather than political principle.
- 33Other false historical beliefs
Thucydides cites additional errors in belief, such as Lacedaemonian kings having two votes and the existence of a Pitane company, showing how careless people are with truth.
- 34Claim to historical reliability
Thucydides asserts that his conclusions rest on the clearest evidence and will not be disturbed by poetic exaggeration or mythological elaboration.
- 35The Peloponnesian War surpasses all previous conflicts
Thucydides concludes that the Peloponnesian War, though smaller than commonly remembered, was greater and more consequential than any previous war.
- 36Methodology for recording speeches
Thucydides explains that he preserves the general sense of speeches while making speakers say what the occasions demanded, prioritizing the substance over exact wording.
- 37Methodology for narrative events
Thucydides reports that he tested accounts rigorously through multiple sources and firsthand observation, acknowledging the difficulty of reconciling contradictory eyewitness reports.
- 38Purpose of the history: utility over entertainment
Thucydides states his history is written as a permanent possession offering exact knowledge for interpreting the future, not to win momentary applause.
- 39Median War vs. Peloponnesian War contrast
The Median War was decided quickly, while the Peloponnesian War was prolonged and caused unprecedented destruction, earthquakes, eclipses, famine, and plague.
- 40The real cause of the war: Athenian power growth
Thucydides identifies the true cause as Athenian power growth and Lacedaemonian alarm, though formal grievances are presented separately.