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Saturday, 19 January 2013

Peloponnesian War (Delium 424 BC Project): Reading List

Moving on from the Persian invasion of Greece circa 480 BC (and also the prequel Marathon affair 490 BC), the time has come to read and research the Peloponnesian War in a "proper" fashion. This is a period of ancient history I have "ducked" before, skipping straight past onto Alexander the Great and the 'counter-invasion'. I guess it was the discomforting thought of "good guys turning bad" as the heroes of the Persian invasion turning on one another that just made the thing unpalatable.

However as the last BBDBA battle (Platea BC 479) gave me the opportunity to finally read the "Father of History", the "Big H" (as in Herodotus) from cover to cover, my seconf BBDBA (Delium 424 BC) of the Peloponnesian War similarly gives me the opportunity to read the "Big T" (as in Thucydides) from start to finish.

The reading list has been assembled (a bit like assembling the Athenian Fleet):
  • Thucydides: The History of the Peloponnesian War
  • Strassler: The Landmark Thucydides,A Comprehensive Guide to The Peloponnesian War 
  • Lendon: Song of Wrath, The Pelopponesian War Begins
  • Kagan: The Peloponnesian War, Athens and Sparta in Savage Conflict 431-404BC (One Volume version)
  • Hanson: A War Like No Other, How the Athenians and Spartans fought the Peloponnesian War
  • Osprey Campaign Series (195): Syracuse 415-413 BC, Destruction of the Athenian Imperial Fleet
  • Sabin: Lost Battles, Reconstructing the Great Clashes of the Ancient Worl
  • Peter Connelly:Greece and Rome at War
  • Victory Games:The Peloponnesian War (Solitaire)
Some of the above have already been read but others still remain outstanding. The game date is set for "deep" (third week of) March 2013
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4 comments:

  1. David19 January 2013 at 23:30

    I have had a project to refight the battles of the peloponnesian wars for several years now and I am about 5% of the way through! The plan was to do the naval battles as well but so far it's been land only.
    I have done Oenoe, Halieis and the two battles at Cimolia, using FOG, Hoplomachia and Hail Ceaser.
    I can recommend Land Battles in 5th Century BC Greece by Fred Eugene Ray as a good wargamers resource as he makes estimates of the forces involved in all the land battles
    Good luck with the project

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  2. Geordie an Exiled FoG20 January 2013 at 00:26

    Thanks David your experience and knowledge is much appreciated.I just hope I maintain the concentration to get this project at least 5% airborne

    (PS I must at least do Delium and follow it up with 1st Mantinea)

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  3. Geordie an Exiled FoG20 January 2013 at 00:46

    It looks a good book and certainly got an interesting review

    http://www.bmcreview.org/2012/10/20121053.html

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  4. Geordie an Exiled FoG20 January 2013 at 22:57

    I caused myself much hilarity with my spelling of the "Peloponnesian War"

    Perhaps that was another reason why I took so long in getting round to read it.

    ReplyDelete