Super Short Summary

The Peloponnesian War by Donald Kagan chronicles the 27-year conflict between Athens and Sparta, beginning in 431 BC and encompassing military strategies, political dynamics, and shifting alliances, while reflecting on the implications of power imbalances and human conflict. The narrative is designed for accessibility, incorporating maps and concise chapters to engage general readers. The text examines the events leading to Sparta's victory, the short-lived decline of democracy, and the enduring lessons of human nature found in Thucydides' historical accounts. The book addresses the impacts of cruelty and viciousness inherent in war.