Fox said the following:

>Now, would you and Gary please assist such
>as Tom and me (and, doubtless, others) who
>don't just appreciate the value of doing the
>homework, but enjoy it? I realize primary
>sources are always best, but perhaps a
>couple of reputable secondary overviews
>would be a good introduction.
>
>Yes, call it a "research question"... ;-) Two or
>three titles, with authors, ought to be enough
>to get us started.

I'm an aerospace engineer and not a classical scholar. I've got a sneaking suspicion that Mary Anne is trained in the Classics and can read Latin. One of my life ambitions is to learn ancient Greek and read Thucydides, Aristophenes and Homer in the original text (I only know a few words of Latin and ancient Greek). You asked for sources:

Polybius: He is arguably the most important Greek historian because he was an eye witness to so much important history, e.g. the destruction by the Romans of Carthage and Corinth. Polybius was a very good historian but not the best (Thucydides takes that prize). However Polybius lived long after Thucydides died and consequently inherited the historical traditions and standards that Thucydides created. If your interest in Polybius is casual then read "Polybius on Roman Imperialism" translated by Evelyn S. Shuckburgh and abridged by Alvin H. Bernstein. If you want the "full treatment" concerning Polybius then read Shuckburgh first to get your feet wet. Then buy the complete Harvard Loeb classics translation of the "Histories of Polybius". Also (very important) buy "A Historical Commentary on Polybius" by Frank W. Walbank (a 3 volume set). I suggest buying these books used because they're expensive. Walbank's commentary references the Loeb classics translation which has the original Greek and English translation on opposite pages. Start by reading just enough of Walbank's book to determine the section of Polybius that he initially refers to. Then read that section of Polybius. After you have read the original passage, go back to Walbank and read his commentary carefully for that section. Continue going back and forth between the two books until you've read all of Polybius. This will take about two-three months which is why you need to actually buy the books. When you have completed this process, you will have a deep understanding concerning the Roman Republic, Rome's war against Carthage, Carthage's greatest general Hannibal, the conquest of the Hellenistic world by the Romans and ancient military tactics.

Thucydides: Read Rex Warner's translation (accept no substitutes). Thucydides is one of my heros (the guy walks on water). One of the best modern historians is John Keegan (his World War II military histories are first class). It is obvious that Keegan used Thucydides as his role model. If you like Keegan then you will love Thucydides.

Thucydides was a citizen of Athens and elected Strategos (a supreme military commander) by the Athenian assembly. At this time in history, the Spartans were the world's best soldiers. The best general of the Spartans was Brasidas. Brasidas commanded a Spartan attack against the city of Amphipolis (an Athenian colony). Thucydides was informed of this attack and lead an Athenian host to defend Amphipolis from the Spartans. Unfortunately Amphipolis surrendered to the Spartans before Thucydides could arrive. Latter, Thucydides was made into a scapegoat by demagogues within the Athenian assembly for this military failure . Consequently Thucydides was stripped of command and disgraced.

Because he had been a Strategos, Thucydides commanded considerable respect not only by the Athenians (who knew he be given a bum rap) but also by the Spartans. Because of his disgrace, Thucydides was essentially a man without a country. This allowed him to travel freely throughout Greece and conduct historical interviews with all participants in the Peloponnesian War.

Thucydides was extremely intelligent and well informed. He knew the Peloponnesian war was going to forever change everything in Greece. He also knew his combination of status/disgrace gave him a unique opportunity to chronicle the war. In many ways Thucydides situation was similar to Polybius.

Closing comments: Read "Pericles Funeral Oration" from Thucydides "Peloponnesian War" and then read Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address". Lincoln obviously knew good material when he read it. Also read Polybius description of the Roman Republican political system and then compare it to our own political system. The similarities are not an accident. It has been documented that Jefferson, Madison, Adams, et al, used Polybius description as the basis for designing the American political system.

Gary