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This book, the second volume in Donald Kagan's tetralogy about the Peloponnesian War, is a provocative and tightly argued history of the first ten years of the war. Taking a chronological approach that allows him to present at each stage the choices that were open to both sides in the conflict, Kagan focuses on political, economic, diplomatic, and military developments. He evaluates the strategies used by both sides and reconsiders the roles played by several key individuals.
- Sales Rank: #1022818 in Books
- Published on: 1990-01-18
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.05" h x .95" w x 6.05" l, 1.25 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 400 pages
Review
"The Archidamian War remains sober, judicious, and comprehensive. There is nothing else like it available in English―certainly nothing that takes all the modern scholarship into account. . . . But perhaps the most valuable achievement of the book is its carefully reasoned demolition of Thucydides's view―warmly embraced by too many scholars―that Pericles's war strategy was justifiable."―Peter Green, Times Literary Supplement
"A profound analysis of the relation of strategy to politics, a sympathetic but searching critique of Thucydides' masterpiece, and a trenchant assessment of the voluminous modern literature on the war."―Bernard Knox, The Atlantic Monthly (reviewing the four-volume series)
"The temptation to acclaim Kagan's four volumes as the foremost work of history produced in North America in the twentieth century is vivid. . . . Here is an achievement that not only honors the criteria of dispassion and of unstinting scruple which mark the best of modern historicism but honors its readers. To read Kagan's 'History of the Peloponnesian War' at the present hour is to be almost unbearably tested."―George Steiner, The New Yorker (reviewing the four-volume series)
From the Back Cover
This book, the second volume in Donald Kagan's tetralogy about the Peloponnesian War, is a provocative and tightly argued history of the first ten years of the war and is the first full-scale account of the Archidamian War to be written since the early years of this century.
About the Author
Donald Kagan is Sterling Professor of Classics and History at Yale University.
Most helpful customer reviews
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
Meant more for a scholar than a casual reader
By Kindle Customer
This book, nevertheless, is clear and concise. That is if you overlook all those Greek names ! I learned a bit about Ancient Greece as well how the leaders of both the Athenians and the Spartans conducted a war.
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful.
The Relevance of Greek History
By Richard La Fianza
By the rank,subject, and age of this book, I doubt many, if anyone, will read this review. Thus, if you are reading these words, you are probably one of the few who already enjoys reading about ancient history and are just trying to decide which book in this area you will read next. If this is you, read this book.
Personally I knew some things, but not much about this war. Kagan discusses, in detail, the views of three of four historians on the causes and origins of the war, how the war could of been avoided, and how it was fought. What is maddening is that he often repeats what two or three people say, and then tells you why they are are wrong.
If you are not familiar with the war, this approach can be confusing. However, if you have time or already familiar with the "Archidamian War", this book is very satisfying. After reading this book, you will have a clearer understanding about the war and the people who fought it.
Personally, I am a political junkie. I found myself so fascinated with the stunning details about the passions and politics of these people that they seemed as clear and as relevent to me as any story in the news today.
This is Kagan's gift. With marvelous use of analogies plucked from every time and corner of history, he shows how Thuclyides was right, events repeat themselves. The form is always a little different, but often almost the same as some past drama. This 2500 years old war is relevent today, not just for drama or historians, but for both moderen politicians and military stratigists. If we choose to listen.
My only concern for this book is that, with the gaps in the records, much of Kagan work is as much fiction as history. He tells us what he believes to be the most probable reasons why this event occured or why something else happened. But, in the end, those are only educated deductions from the record, not what actually happened. Kagan, in particular, sees man as more rational creature then, in my view, he actually is. Men and women often do things for no reasons or, for very bad ones. Kagan assumes city-states were more rational then men, when a city-state is just a collection of men. Men who are very irrational at times.
Still, this is a small criticism. The book is great. Read it and remember, it is easier to learn from other's mistakes then to make them yourself. Thank you Mr. Kagan.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
A draw
By JPS
Review posted on Amazon.co.uk on 8 March 2012
This is the second volume of Donald Kagan and it is just as great as the Outbreak of the Peloponnesian War (a term that reflects the Athenian point of view of Thucydides. It covers the first ten years of the conflict (431 to 421), the so-called Archidamian War, after the name of the Spartan king who lead the early campaigns.
The book begins with an excellent chapter on plans and resources, and discusses to what extent each side's strategy delivered the expected results within the expected timeframe. Sparta's aims - "to liberate Greece" - meant the destruction of Athens' Empire by restoring the autonomy of its Greek subject states, but also the destruction of the Athenian fleet and of the Long Walls by which Athens could protct itself from Sparta's army, escape its retribution and inflict its own damage. Kagan makes clear that Athens' war aims - as defined by Pericles - were not to destroy either Sparta or its alliance but rather to hold out for long enough and inflict sufficient damage on Sparta and its allies so as to wear them down and convince them to make pace and maintain the status quo.
As such, the ten-year conflict, which essentially ended as a draw, has sometimes been seen as a qualified strategic victory for Athens. Throughout the book, however, Kagan makes the point that this is incorrect. Both sides underestimated the ennemy, many things that happened were largely unexpected and both sides' initial strategies failed.
Moreover, initially, both Archidamos and Pericles seem to have rather reluctant to vigorously prosecute the war. While the Spartans seem to have believed that Athens would yield after its territory have been invaded and his crops destroyed in several consecutive years, it did not, with Athenians keepinf behind their walls and relying instead on the fleet and importing grain from Crimea to make up for the loss of domestic production. While Pericles had anticipated such a conflict, Kagan shows by analyzing Athens financial resources and reserves that it would be hard pressed to carry it out for more than three years. In addition, of course, the plague which struck Athens particularly hard because all of the population was concentrated behind the walls and carried away Pericles himself was, of course, utterly unexpected.
Anyway, Kagan's conclusion to this volume is that the end of the Archidamian war disappointed both sides and that the initial strategies of both sides were inadequate and ill-conceived, with Athens financial plans being particularly inadequate. Athens, which wanted to force Sparta to make peace rather than destroy her, got its way, but it took ten years and was obtained at huge human and financial cost. Moreover, during this period, Athens did not manage to make itself invulnerable to invasion so that, with hindsight, the war was not only a draw but perhaps also the peace should be seen as a breathing space for both sides.
One final note: if anything, this volume is perhaps even better than the first one. THis is because, unlike the first tome, it contains multiple well-drawn and accurate maps through which all the events and campaigns can be followed by the reader. Amazingly, this book has never been reviewed before. One reason might be its price - over thirty pounds for a paperback - although the book is certainly worth every penny of it. Another might be the existence of Kagan's one-volume condensed version of the whole war which I have yet to read.
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