Thucydides
(c.460-400
BC)
Thucydides
is considered one of the greatest historians of the ancient world together
with Herodotus. He tried to be as neutral as he possible could and he stated
that what he wrote was something that belonged to the future. Some people
like to call him a journalist, which perhaps is not too far from the truth,
since he based his texts on witness reports and interviews.
He was born near Athens, the son of an aristocrat, and when he was old enough
he joined the army. He became commander of the Athenian fleet, but failed
at Amphipolis against the Spartan army and its general Brasidas, and was exiled
from Athens for 20 years. This is what made him sit down and start writing
about his time.
