Introduction

This chapter provides the background for Book III of Thucydides's History, a historical account of the Peloponnesian War. It talks about Thucydides, who was an Athenian historian that was the son of Olorus and had mining interests in Thrace. It speculates Thucydides was born not later than 454 as he was likely at least thirty years old when he served as an Athenian general from 424 to 423. The chapter recounts how Thucydides failed to prevent Amphipolis from falling into the hands of the Spartans but was in time to save Eïon for Athens. It also mentions Thucydides's exile due to failure and he did not return to Athens until an amnesty was proclaimed at the end of the Peloponnesian War in 404.