Archidamian War

By Donald Kagan

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 080140889X
• ISBN13: 9780801408892
• Release Date: August 1987
• Publisher: Cornell University Press
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Kagan's Inexhaustible Guide to the Peloponnesian War

The Peloponnesian War, along with the myriad feuds that latched on to the central conflict between Sparta and Athens in the latter half of the fifth century BCE, can be an exhausting subject. The civil and international politics involved in fostering and perpetuating the war rival even today's most complex conflicts. In this, the second of four volumes on the subject, Kagan skillfully presents, comments on, and refutes the hypotheses presented by history and historians, while still managing a very approachable narrative. These books come in and out of circulation, so best to get ahold of them while they're available. Again, Kagan's work is superb For the historian, or avid history buff (however you might self-identify), these works are a necessary addition to your library. The more casual reader might, however, consider purchasing Kagan's abridged work entitled simply "The Peloponnesian War." It includes the main thrust of the narrative, but with markedly less analysis of the political motivations included in these volumes.

War and Peace, 5th Century B.C.

This is perhaps the most important of Kagan's four books, because it contains the central plank of his thesis. Even though the Archidamian War closed with a tactical victory for the Athenians, as Kagan shows, the war (the opening conflict in the thirty year Pelopponesian wars) left the city-state economically crushed and strategically vulnerable. In this respect, the thesis in this book reminds me of Tolstoy's thesis in War and Peace concerning the Battle of Borodino. Tolstoy had argued that the outcome of this conflict (a nominal win for Napoleon) was in fact a strategic catastrophe for the French. Similarly, Pericles, for all his brilliance, fixed upon a strategy throughout this war which bled Athens white and left it utterly unprepared for another long-term struggle. A powerful history indeed.

Great Book, Great History

I agree with Mr. Lafianza's review except for his criticism. At first the analysis may be annoying, but one should quickly see its benefits. By looking at several different explanations and pointing out their failings, Kagan reiterates his main themes, strengthens his own point, underlines the importance of certain events, and makes understanding these events clearer for the layman by slowly moving through the events and never going so fast that a given situation does not make sense.The book is wonderful and if the subject interests you, there is none better.