The subject with which Thucydides is dealing in his work is the history of the Peloponnesian war (which lasted from 431 to 404 B.C.). His History only goes down to 411, however, when the book stops abruptly. The continuation and the end of the war are dealt with by Xenophon in his Hellenica. How and when did Thucydides write his work? Scholars are at variance, and to go into the question in detail would take us outside the limits of this website. One view generally gaining ground is that Thucydides kept notes as events were happening, wrote up the various sections, and then made revisions, additions, and so on independently of the time of their original writing. The work was divided into eight books by the scholars of Alexandria.

Comprises:

A.	The Introduction to the work, in the following sections:
	1.	Proeme, in which the writer introduces himself and his subject of study.
	2.	Archaeology, giving elements from earlier Hellenic history and mentioning factors contributory to the strength of individuals and states. Chief among the latter are an economy and a technology in combination with permanent settlement and political stability.
	3.	The method to be used.
Β.	The points of origin and causes that led to war between the Athenians and the Spartiates.
C.	The 'Pentekontaetia' (479-432). This was the time-span from the end of the Persian wars to the beginning of the Peloponnesian War: its main feature was the Periclean state and the zenith of Athenian power.
D.	The opponents' forces and tactics.

This is the book in which the historian mentions the events of the period 431-428. It is not only about military clashes: it includes Pericles' famous Funeral Oration for the burial of the first war dead. This harangue gives us the Athenians' self-image and their view of their own history and of their relations with other Hellenes. The importance of this particular funeral oration, and of the funeral oration in general, is shown by the fact that scholars see them as basic ingredients of the Athenian identity. Book II, which also includes the account of the Plague, ends with Pericles' death.

BOOK III This comprises the events of the period 428-425. It is dominated by harangues: the revolt of Miletus; the civil war at Corcyra; and the first Sicilian expedition. An important chapter gives the pathology of the war. BOOK IV Deals with events from 425 to 422. BOOK V Presents the events of the period 422-415. These include the battle at Amphipolis and the Peace of Nicias. The key chapter is the dialogue between Melians and Athenians.

These refer to the events of 415-412, in other words the Sicilian expedition.

Presents the events of the period 413-411: the 'Decelean' War and the imposition of an oligarchic form of state on Athens.

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