Foundations of Grand Strategy
Assess grand strategic theory and practice in Thucydides and Plutarch.
Why do nations go to war? Do shifts in the balance of power between rising and status quo powers inevitably produce conflict? What challenges are democracies likely to face in fighting a long war against a determined, ideologically hostile adversary? Is there a “Thucydides Trap,” and if so, can we avoid it?
Thucydides wrote that his history was for “those inquirers who desire an exact knowledge of the past as an aid to the understanding of the future.” In this seminar, distinguished Yale historian and classicist Donald Kagan will reprise one of his most popular courses – a close study both of the Peloponnesian War and Thucydides’ account of it, with a view toward elucidating the fundamental and recurring problems of geopolitics at all times and places.
Photo by Joshua Rodriguez on Unsplash
Donald Kagan on war and human nature
This course will take place over 12 weekly evening sessions (6:00 – 8:00 pm) at the Hertog Foundation’s office in Washington, DC. Dinner will be served.
Faculty
Donald Kagan
Donald Kagan is the Sterling Professor Emeritus of Classics and History at Yale University. His four-volume History of the Peloponnesian War is the leading scholarly work on the subject. He is also the author of many books on ancient and modern topics, including On the Origins of War and the Preservation of Peace.
Donald Kagan
Donald Kagan is the Sterling Professor Emeritus of Classics and History at Yale University. His four-volume History of the Peloponnesian War is the leading scholarly work on the subject. He is also the author of many books on ancient and modern topics, including On the Origins of War and the Preservation of Peace, The Great Dialogue: A History of Greek Political Thought from Homer to Polybius, and Thucydides: The Reinvention of History.
A former dean of Yale College, he received his Ph.D. in 1958 from The Ohio State University. Professor Kagan has won numerous awards and fellowships, including four teaching awards at Cornell and Yale. In 2002 he was the recipient of the National Humanities Medal, and in 2005 was named the National Endowment for the Humanities Jefferson Lecturer.
Preview the Syllabus by Week/Session
Introduction | Strategies & The Plague
Readings:
- Kagan, The Peloponnesian War, Chs. 1–7
- Thucydides, The Landmark Thucydides, Book 2, Chs. 1–103
- Plutarch, The Rise and Fall of Athens, Pericles, 33–39
- Diodorus, The Library of History, Book 12, Chs. 41–52
Essay Topics:
- Evaluate the Spartan strategy. Can you suggest a better one?
- Evaluate the Athenian strategy. Can you suggest a better one?
- The situation in 430: Why was there no peace? Why was Pericles condemned? Why was he reelected?
- Thucydides’ account of the plague. Compare it with his account of the civil war in Corcyra. What is his method, his purpose, his message?
Mytilene & The West
Readings:
Essay Topics:
- The Case for Cleon
- The Case for Diodotus
- Why did the Athenians go to Sicily?
- Demosthenes’ Aetolian Campaign: Evaluate.
Pylos to Delium
Readings:
Essay Topics:
- Was Cleon Lucky?
- Should Athens have accepted Sparta’s peace proposal?
- Megara – Evaluate the strategy and explain the result.
- Delium – Evaluate Athens’ Boeotian campaign strategy and explain the result.
Amphipolis & The Coming of Peace
Readings:
Essay Topics:
- Evaluate the role of Brasidas’ expedition in Spartan strategy and explain its outcome.
- Why did Amphipolis Fall? Was Thucydides responsible?
- Cleon’s Thracian Campaign and the Battle of Amphipolis.
- The Peace of Nicias, an evaluation. Why did each side make peace? What were its prospects for success?
The Peace of Nicias
Readings:
- Thucydides, 5.21–56
- Kagan, Chs. 16–17
- Diodorus, 12.75–76, 78–81
- Plutarch, Nicias 10; Alcibiades 15–16
Essay Topics:
- The Athenian–Spartan alliance of 421 – why was it formed? Was it a good idea?
- The Argive separate league – Why was it formed? Was it a good idea?
- Alcibiades” Argive Policy – Evaluate.
- Politics and Policy at Sparta 421–418 B.C.
The Battle of Mantinea & Its Aftermath
Readings:
Essay Topics:
- The Confrontation in the Argive Plain – Why did it happen? Why did no battle occur?
- The Battle of Mantinea – Why did the winners win and the losers lose? What was the importance of the battle?
- The ostracism of Hyperbolus.
- The Melian Affair.
The Sicilian Expedition
Readings:
Essay Topics:
- Why did the Athenians go to Sicily in 415 with the force they used?
- Who mutilated the Hermae and why?
- What was the best strategy for Athens?
- Why did the expedition fail?
The Consequences of the Disaster
Readings:
Essay Topics:
- The Popularity of the Athenian Empire.
- Politics and Society in Sparta.
- Why did Persia make an alliance with Sparta?
- The Spartan Treaties with Persia – Did Sparta betray Greek freedom?
Leadership at Athens & Sparta
Readings:
- Thucydides, 8.45–109
- Kagan, Chs. 28–35
- Diodorus, 13.38–42, 45–47, 49–55, 64–74
- Plutarch Alcibiades 26
Essay Topics:
- The 400 – Why did they rise and why did they fall?
- The Constitution of the 5000 – What was it? Who was for it?
- The importance of Alcibiades.
- The importance of Lysander.
Arginusae & Athenian Politics
Readings:
Essay Topics:
- Why did the Athenians win at Arginusae? Why did they condemn their generals?
- Should Athens have made peace after Cyzicus? After Arginusae?
Aegospotami & Surrender
Readings:
Essay Topics:
- Why did the Athenians lose at Aegospotarni?
- Therarnenes and the Athenian surrender – What were the terms and what was Therarnen’s policy?
- Why did Sparta spare Athens?
Conclusions
Discussion Questions:
- What was the turning point in the war? Why did Sparta win the war?
- Why did Athens lose?
- What did Thucydides think? (2.65)
