Download Thucydides- The Funeral Oration of Pericles

Humanities- History
pp. 58 - 63
The Peloponnesian War (431 – 404 BCE)
by Thucydides (471 – 396 BCE)
“The Funeral Oration of Pericles”
1. Suppose this was the only document about 5th Century Athens that survived. What
conclusion would you draw from it about Athens, its institutions and its people?
2. Considering other information you have (or could find out) about 5th Century Athens,
how accurate would your conclusions be?
3. Why is Athenian democracy worthy of praise according to Pericles?
4. What does Pericles say are the ideals of Athenian life?
5. How do you interpret Pericles’ exhortation to the widows of the dead soldiers?
6. Do you think that Pericles, a general and a politician, is being unrealistically boastful or
justly proud? WHY?
Thucydides- Excerpt from the Peloponnesian War
Think about these questions after you have read and answered the questions on the front side.
We will talk about these in class!
1. What was the Peloponnesian War? What is its importance in Greek history and the
subsequent history of Western Civilization?
2. What is the concept of “honor” and when and under what conditions is it honorable to die
for one’s country?
3. What is the meaning of “duty” and what is the duty of a citizen to his state?
4. Specifically, what is it that makes Athens different from other city-states? What are
some of the unique characteristics of Athenian culture that illustrate or exemplify this
basic difference in citizen or government responsibility?
5. To Athenians, what is the relative importance of freedom of speech and freedom of
discussion?
6. What is the significance of the phrase: “Choosing to die resisting, rather than to live
submitting,” and how does it pertain to Athenian society?
7. What should a person die for (if anything) and what would an Athenian think about
someone who has nothing they might be willing to die for?
8. Do you think that the various points that Thucydides makes have any relevance to
contemporary times and society?