Changes

Thucydides' view of internal politics was ambiguous. While he frequently praised the merits of democracy, and the endurance of democratic societies during times of great difficulty, he also regarded it as a potentially dangerous system, in which uninformed masses could be manipulated by self serving demagogues into pursuing foolish courses of action, such as the poorly planned and executed Athenian invasion of Sicily in 415. A strong, statesman-like leader like his hero, Pericles, would thus be needed to restrain the urges of the people.     

Thucydides' view of internal politics was ambiguous. While he frequently praised the merits of democracy, and the endurance of democratic societies during times of great difficulty, he also regarded it as a potentially dangerous system, in which uninformed masses could be manipulated by self serving demagogues into pursuing foolish courses of action, such as the poorly planned and executed Athenian invasion of Sicily in 415. A strong, statesman-like leader like his hero, Pericles, would thus be needed to restrain the urges of the people.     

[[Category: Ancient Greek Historians]]

[[Category:Ancient Greek Historians]]