Thucydides and the Pursuit of Freedom PDF
Preview Thucydides and the Pursuit of Freedom
q THUCYDIDES AND THE PURSUIT OF FREEDOM THUCYDIDES AND n THE PURSUIT OF FREEDOM Mary P. Nichols CORNELL UNIVERSITY PRESS Ithaca and London Cover art: Philipp von Foltz, The Age of Pericles (1853). Copyright © 2015 by Cornell University All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Cornell University Press, Sage House, 512 East State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850. First published 2015 by Cornell University Press Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Nichols, Mary P., author. Thucydides and the pursuit of freedom / Mary P. Nichols. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8014-5316-8 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Thucydides—Political and social views. 2. Liberty. 3. Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. I. Title. DF229.T6N53 2015 938'.05092—dc23 2014024626 Cornell University Press strives to use environmentally responsible suppliers and materials to the fullest extent possible in the publishing of its books. Such materials include vegetable-based, low-VOC inks and acid-free papers that are recycled, totally chlorine-free, or partly composed of nonwood fibers. For further information, visit our website at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu. Cloth printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 q Contents Acknowledgments vii Introduction: Thucydides as Historian 1 1. Periclean Athens and an Image of Freedom 24 2. Athenian Freedom in the Balance: Mytilene and Plataea 51 3. Sparta, Brasidas, and the Liberation of Hellas 78 4. Sicily, Alcibiades, and the Liberation of Ero¯s 107 5. Homecoming and Freedom 138 Conclusion: Thucydides, an Athenian 169 Bibliography 185 Index 191 q Acknowledgments I have had two occasions over the years to teach Thucydides as a graduate seminar, once at Fordham University and once at Baylor. Both classes stand out in my experience of over forty years of teach- ing, for the insights and the encouragement that my students gave me. Their good spirit, intelligence, and humor will always remain with me, as will the image of a “Save Plataea” T-shirt they promised. I have been blessed for so many years with my graduate students, from whom I have received more than they can imagine. To them all, I would like to dedicate this book. Two presentations of my work on Thucydides, at the University of Notre Dame and the College of the Holy Cross, helped me refine my thoughts, as did the questions and conversations that followed. I am also grateful to the friends who read and criticized versions of my manuscript, including Chris- tine Basil, Susan Benfield, Steve Block, Kevin Burns, William Mathie, and most of all David Nichols, whose support and love made this book possible. Thanks also to the anonymous readers who made suggestions for improving the manuscript, and to Peter J. Potter and his staff at Cornell University Press, who guided this process with competence and care. This book was supported in part by funds from the College and Dean of Arts and Sciences of Baylor University and from the Arts & Humanities Faculty Research Program and the Vice Provost for Research. vii q THUCYDIDES AND THE PURSUIT OF FREEDOM
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