The Peloponnesian War - Causes and Thucydides' Perspective - Part 2

Explore the causes and historiography of the Peloponnesian War in this lecture from Yale University's Introduction to Ancient Greek History course. Delve into Professor Kagan's analysis of the war's origins, challenging Thucydides' view of its inevitability and examining the Athenian policy of deterrence under Pericles. Investigate the roles of Corcyra, Potidaea, and the Megarian Decree in the lead-up to the conflict. Consider the Spartan Assembly's decision-making process and its impact on the war's course. Examine the war's initial stages and critically assess Thucydides' approach as a potentially revisionist historian. Engage with Professor Kagan's thought-provoking arguments about Thucydides' motivations and his portrayal of Athenian democracy under Pericles.