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Thucydides on the Causes of Athenian Imperialism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

Steven Forde
Steven Forde*
Affiliation:
Michigan State University
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Abstract

Thucydides' investigation of Athenian imperialism is in part an investigation into whether imperialism as such is based on universal human compulsions, and hence cannot simply be condemned. It is generally recognized that for Thucydides, Athenian imperialism is connected to the Athenian national character, but it has not been widely appreciated that Thucydides provides a detailed account of the foundations of the Athenian character in human nature itself. That account revolves around what he calls “daring” and the human impulse of eros. The erotic and daring character of the Athenians is connected by Thucydides both to the unique democracy of the city and to its unique experience in the Persian Wars. The unique Athenian character stems from an unprecedented liberation of certain impulses of human nature. This produces Athenian imperialism and dynamism, but also destroys the city in time.

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Articles
Information
American Political Science Review , Volume 80 , Issue 2 , June 1986 , pp. 433 - 448
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 1986

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