Reading Thucydides

Originally published on September 12, 2024.
Last Updated on September 15, 2024.

Back in 2008 VoxDay lead a reading group through The Peloponnesian War by Thucydides. Along with discussion posts, he also created quizes and a ‘final exam’ for those following along.

The posts on Vox Popoli were all mixed in with his regular posting and the Blogspot search function leaves something to be desired. So I’m linking to all the posts and quizzes in order here to make it easier to follow along if others want to attempt this journey.

A quick note about Thucydides versions and books.

The Landmark Thucydides is by far the best version to read and follow along with. The maps alone make it worth while. The dates, page headers, index and glossary are also very helpful in following the story. I also have a Penguins Classic version which is dry and really hard to read by comparison. Consider making the Landmark version a priority.

Discussion and decision to read The Peloponnesian War.

• The world according to Vox [Out of order, but why we read history.]
• The Declining Value of Education
• I am Tempted
• The Voice of the People is Heard
• Overrated

Part 1

• Section 1.1 through 1.115
• Voxiversity: Thucydides section one
• Quiz 1
• Voxiversity – Thucydides S1b

Part 2

• Section 1.116 to 2.46
• Voxiversity: Thucydides S2
• Quiz 2
• Thucydides S2b

Part 3

• Read Section 2.47 through 2.103 (To the end of Book 2.)
• Voxiversity: Thucydides S3
• Quiz 3

Part 4

• All of Book Three. Sections 3.1 to 3.116. It’s really quite a remarkable section, as it contains what must be one of the startlingly prescient passages in human history.
• Voxiversity: Thucydides S4
• Quiz 4

Part 5

• All of Book Four.
• Voxiversity: Thucydides S5
• Quiz 5

Part 6

• All of Book Five.
• Voxiversity: Thucydides S6
• Quiz 6

Part 7

• All of Book Six.
• Voxiversity: Thucydides S7
• Quiz 7

Part 8

• All of Book Seven.
• Voxiversity: Thucydides S8
• Quiz 8

Part 9

• All of Book Eight.
• Voxiversity S9
• Quiz 9

Final Exam

• Thucydides – the final
• Final Exam
• Of pseudos and the Peloponnesus [End of post announces those that finished the reading and exam.]