History of the Peloponnesian War

For this was certainly the greatest movement that ever happened amongst the Greeks, and some part of the barbarians, and extending, as one may say, even to most nations of the world.

For the events that preceded this, and those again that are yet more ancient, it [*]( As he refers, I think, to his own actual investigations on the subject, there seems no reason for giving to ἦν the hypothetical force, as translators have generally done. The same remark applies to the use of the same verb in the first sentence of chap. 22, χαλεπὸν τὴν ἀκρίβειαν αὐτὴν τῶν λεχθέντων διαμνημονεῦσαι ἦν: and the truth of it appears to be confirmed by the expression ἐπιπόνως δὲ εὑρίσκετο in the same chapter.) was impossible, through length of time, to ascertain with certainty; but [*]( The relative ὧν is referred by some to σκοποῦντι, by others to πιστεῦσαι; and in either case it would seem but an ordinary instance of attraction; though Arnold thinks that neither of these expressions can be admitted. I have preferred the latter, both because the participial clause might very naturally be inserted in this parenthetical way; and from reference to a very similar passage in the beginning of chap. 20, τὰ μὲν οὖν παλαιὰ τοιαῦτα εὖρον, χαλεπὰ ὄντα παντὶ ἑξῆς τεκμηρίῳ πιστεῦσαι. Schäfer, as quoted by Göller, supplies ἐξ from the antecedent clause.—ξυμβαίνει seems here to express simply a result, without implying any thing of its fortuitous nature, as it more commonly does.) from such evidence as I am led to trust, on looking back as far as possible, I do not think they were great, either with respect to wars or otherwise.

For it is evident, that what is now called Hellas, was not of old inhabited in a settled manner; but that formerly there were frequent removals, and that each tribe readily left the place of their abode, being forced by such as were from time to time more numerous.

For as there was no traffic, and they did not mix with one another without fear, either by sea or land; and they each so used what they had as but barely to live on it, without having any superfluity of riches, or planting their land, (because it was uncertain when another should invade them, and carry all away, especially as they had not the defence of walls;) and as they thought that they might any where obtain their necessary daily sustenance, they made little difficulty in removing: and for this cause they were not strong, either in greatness of cities, or other resources.