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The History of the Peloponnesian War

Thucydides
Mentions7
Episodes7
Podcasts3

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The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides comes up on The Rest Is History and Modern Wisdom, including episode with Niall Ferguson, with transcript quotes, timestamps, and episode context.

The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides appears 7 times across 7 podcast episodes on 3 shows, with transcript quotes and timestamps.

this is recorded in that the history of the peloponnesian war by an athenian general called thucydides which plato would undoubtedly have read

Best episode to start with
314: Atlantis: The Legend (Part 1) on The Rest Is History
Why people keep bringing this up

Thucydides is cited multiple times on Hardcore History across at least two episodes, showing the podcast's reliance on his work as a classical source. In Show 58, Kings Of Kings III, Thucydides is referenced as a historian who wrote about the Greeks and who provides relevant facts about Persia. In Show 21, Punic Nightmares I, the program groups him with ancient writers when discussing accounts of naval battles.

Because the episodes focus on ancient conflicts and maritime engagements, the podcast invokes Thucydides to anchor descriptions and analysis in historical testimony. The mentions are concrete: the book is used as a named source for factual detail and for context when narrating Greek-Persian interactions and ancient naval warfare. The repeated citations across different episodes suggest the book is treated as part of the show's core set of classical sources rather than a one-off reference.

Recommendation signals

The host discusses how Plato's story of Atlantis may have been influenced by historical events recorded by Thucydides in 'The History of the Peloponnesian War.' They explore the connections between geological disasters and the narrative of Atlantis, suggesting that Plato was crafting a fictionalized history.

The host discusses the portrayal of Phoenicians by Greek historians, particularly Thucydides, highlighting their complex relationship with the Greeks. This mention serves to illustrate the historical rivalry and cultural similarities that fueled animosity between these ancient civilizations.

The host discusses how people often seek to draw lessons from history that align with their pre-existing beliefs, using Thucydides as a key example. They argue that while Thucydides is frequently cited for hard lessons, his work actually highlights the complexities and contingencies of historical events.

Best for
Students of philosophy and historyHistory enthusiasts and students of ancient civilizationsHistorians and students of historylisteners interested in history and literature
Where it keeps coming up

Recent show rotation: The Rest Is History, Modern Wisdom, and Hardcore History.

Guests tied to these mentions include Niall Ferguson.

Fastest path back to the source: the strongest indexed mention lands at 36:42 in the episode where we captured it.

Quick answers

Quick FAQ

Answers to common book, episode, podcast, and guest questions.

Which episode mentioned The History of the Peloponnesian War?

314: Atlantis: The Legend (Part 1) on The Rest Is History is one of the clearest indexed episodes that mentioned The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides. Other indexed episodes include #675 - Niall Ferguson - The Shocking Lessons Of History Everyone Has Forgotten on Modern Wisdom and 421. Ancient Carthage: Lords of the Sea (Part 1) on The Rest Is History. The first indexed transcript timestamp lands at 36:42.

Which podcast mentioned The History of the Peloponnesian War?

The Rest Is History, Modern Wisdom, and Hardcore History are the main indexed podcasts currently tied to The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides.

Who mentioned The History of the Peloponnesian War on podcasts?

Niall Ferguson is the main guest currently tied to mentioning The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides.

Why do podcast guests bring up The History of the Peloponnesian War?

The host discusses how Plato's story of Atlantis may have been influenced by historical events recorded by Thucydides in 'The History of the Peloponnesian War.' They explore the connections between geological disasters and the narrative of Atlantis, suggesting that Plato was crafting a fictionalized history. It most often appears in conversations about Plato's Atlantis theory, Greek historians and Phoenicians, and lessons from history.

Source material

Mentions across episodes

Every mention card links back to the episode page and exact transcript anchor.

The discussion references Thucydides' account of historical events, which Plato would have read, linking it to the story of Atlantis.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Students of philosophy and history
Key quote: this is recorded in that the history of the peloponnesian war by an athenian general called thucydides which plato would undoubtedly have read
The host discusses how Plato's story of Atlantis may have been influenced by historical events recorded by Thucydides in 'The History of the Peloponnesian War.' They explore the connections between geological disasters and the narrative of Atlantis, suggesting that Plato was crafting a fictionalized history.

The mention of Thucydides highlights the understanding of human nature and history, suggesting that his work remains relevant despite the passage of time.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Students of history and philosophy
Key quote: It's why we can understand Shakespeare. The human condition, particularly when it comes to love and death and power, that hasn't really changed much.
The host mentions Thucydides to illustrate the enduring relevance of historical figures in understanding human nature and societal dynamics. They emphasize that despite technological advancements, the fundamental aspects of human behavior remain consistent, making the study of history vital.

Thucydides describes the Phoenicians as barbarians and discusses their historical interactions with the Greeks.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: History enthusiasts and students of ancient civilizations
Key quote: Thucydides, the great historian of the Peloponnesian War, he describes the Phoenicians as barbarians.
The host discusses the portrayal of Phoenicians by Greek historians, particularly Thucydides, highlighting their complex relationship with the Greeks. This mention serves to illustrate the historical rivalry and cultural similarities that fueled animosity between these ancient civilizations.

Thucydides is referenced as a historian who wrote about the Greeks, providing relevant facts about Persia in his accounts.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Historians and military strategy enthusiasts
Key quote: A historian that Right after this period, he's one of the biggies and one of the greats, Thucydides, Thucydides, he basically says, and I'm paraphrasing here, the barbarians blew it.
The host mentions Thucydides to illustrate the historical perspective on military decisions and cultural differences in warfare. Thucydides' insights are used to explain how poor decisions contributed to the Persian defeat against the Greeks.

The results of Karinia were endless, the unity that Greece had failed to create for itself had been achieved but only at the point of a half alien sword.

Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Historians and students of ancient history
Key quote: the unity that Greece had failed to create for itself had been achieved but only at the point of a half alien sword.
The host briefly references 'The History of the Peloponnesian War' to illustrate the complexities of Greek unity. This mention serves to highlight the paradox of achieving unity through conflict.

Thucydides is mentioned as the archetype of a historian who writes his book to be a possession for all time, with lessons applicable to current events.

Sentiment: Critical Analysis
For: Historians and students of history
Key quote: But I think that that is to, certainly to misunderstand Thucydides, and it's to understand the nature of history generally, because actually Thucydides is never saying that he's not giving hard and cast lessons.
The host discusses how people often seek to draw lessons from history that align with their pre-existing beliefs, using Thucydides as a key example. They argue that while Thucydides is frequently cited for hard lessons, his work actually highlights the complexities and contingencies of historical events.

The mention of ancient writers and their accounts of naval battles suggests a reference to historical texts like Thucydides' work.

Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: listeners interested in history and literature
Key quote: The mention of ancient writers and their accounts of naval battles suggests a reference to historical texts like Thucydides' work.
The host briefly references Thucydides' work to highlight the significance of historical accounts in understanding naval battles. This mention serves to connect contemporary discussions with classical literature.