Thucydides
Thucydides (c.
460-400 BC) was an Athenian historian and general who wrote History of the Peloponnesian War, documenting the conflict between Sparta and Athens through 411 BC. Considered the father of "scientific history," he applied rigorous standards of impartiality and evidence-gathering while excluding divine intervention.
He's also credited as founding political realism, viewing politics through the lens of fear and self-interest.
After commanding at Amphipolis, he spent twenty years in exile, allowing him to observe both sides of the conflict.
His work remains essential reading in universities and military colleges worldwide for understanding human behavior during crises.
