"Hellenica" by Xenophon is a historical record from the 4th century BC that picks up where Thucydides left off, recounting Greek history from 411 to 359 BC. Xenophon uses his background as a soldier and someone living outside his homeland to tell the story of political and military confusion after the Peloponnesian War, looking closely at important people like Alcibiades and Thrasylus. Early in the book, Xenophon explains battles between Sparta and Athens after the war, including a naval battle in the Hellespont, showing how tactics and changing relationships between Greek cities played a big role. The story then focuses on people like Alcibiades, who greatly affected the Athenian navy through his actions in war and politics, setting the scene to learn about leadership, battle strategies, and how city-states interacted during this time of trouble in Greek history.
Hellenica
By Xenophon
Witness the clash of mighty city-states and the rise and fall of influential figures, as a soldier-historian recounts Greece's turbulent era following a devastating war.
Summary
About the AuthorXenophon of Athens was a Greek military leader, philosopher, and historian. At the age of 30, he was elected as one of the leaders of the retreating Greek mercenaries, the Ten Thousand, who had been part of Cyrus's attempt to seize control of the Achaemenid Empire. As the military historian Theodore Ayrault Dodge wrote, "the centuries since have devised nothing to surpass the genius of this warrior". Xenophon established precedents for many logistical operations and was among the first to describe strategic flanking maneuvers and feints in combat.
Xenophon of Athens was a Greek military leader, philosopher, and historian. At the age of 30, he was elected as one of the leaders of the retreating Greek mercenaries, the Ten Thousand, who had been part of Cyrus's attempt to seize control of the Achaemenid Empire. As the military historian Theodore Ayrault Dodge wrote, "the centuries since have devised nothing to surpass the genius of this warrior". Xenophon established precedents for many logistical operations and was among the first to describe strategic flanking maneuvers and feints in combat.
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