Analysis of Leaders from the Peloponnesian War

Leaders have needed a variety of traits to succeed in most societies: eloquence, openness to criticism and opposing opinions, understanding the short term and long term benefits for the people of their decisions, and the ability to set an example for their subjects to follow are some examples of traits a leader should have. Thucydides, in his History of the Peloponnesian War, depicts three major leaders during the war—Archidamus of Sparta, Pericles of Athens, and Alcibiades of Athens—and their contributions to their respective sides. The analysis of these leaders utilized Thucydides’ text to evaluate their skills as leaders based on the mentioned criterion and how impressive and effective they were for their respective people. The conclusion drawn was that, though Pericles was the most impressive of the leaders, Archidamus was the most effective of the three