Thucydides' life is largely a mystery. He was born into an Athenian noble family around 460/455 BCE and died around 400 BCE. As an adult, he served as a general in the Athenian army during the Peloponnesian Wars and became a supporter of Pericles, making him a "democrat" rather than an "oligarchist."

As a historian, Thucydides was interested in power and how human nature affected its creation and use. His book is usually considered to be the first example of "scientific history" because he focused on reporting facts and tried to stay away from offering opinions.

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