Thucydides declares that his History “was composed to be a lasting possession and not to be heard for a prize at the moment of a contest” (51). What is a “lasting possession” in his terms? Why does he believe history is a better medium to create something lasting?

What are the Peloponnesian war’s manifest and true causes, according to Thucydides?

Thucydides says of the speeches he reproduces, “I have made each speaker say what I thought the situation demanded, keeping as near as possible to the general sense of what was actually meant” (51). What does he mean by this? Support your position with at least three examples from the speeches.