On The Speeches In Thucydides History Status And Role

History of the Peloponnesian War is a great historical work that Thucydides devoted his lifetime,it contains a large number of informative speeches.The former scholars have a certain degree of research to the speech in the work and have some research resuluts,which lay a solid foundation for writing the article.Therefore,the article tries to focus on discussing the role and function of speech in Thucydides'history with the research perspective of Thucydides'pragmatic thought,which on the basis of previous research.Through researching the problem,we can not only understand the important role and significant function of speech,but aslo recognize Thucydides' historical thought more comprehensive,so we can have a more objective assessment for the author and his work..The article is divided into four parts mainly:The first part:Because the ancient Greek society provides sufficient preconditions for Thucydides,he can apply speech successfully.The article studies from three aspects:the prosperity of ancient Greek oratory;the development of ancient Greek rhetorical education;the characteristic of ancient Greek historiography.Since possessing the three qualifications,Thucydides becomes possible using massive speeches in History of the Peloponnesian War.The second part:Because possessing the preconditions of applying speech in historical work,Thucydides fabricates lots of speeches under the direction of pragmatic thought, in order to enable his work have some exemplifying functions.The article studies from two aspects:the content of speech fabricated;the purpose of fabricating speech.The third part:The part mainly expounds the representations of the fundamental characteristic of pragmatic historiography - moralism and political learning-in the speech.As speech demonstrates pragmatism of the two areas,many later politicians and strategists hoping draw experience and lesson all have attached great importantce to History of the Peloponnesian War,so they can avoid similar mistakes。Therefore, speech has very important role in Thucydides' history,we must study them repeatly.The fourth part:The part mainly expounds the important function of speech in Thucydides' pragmatic historiography, the article considers represent three aspects:show people's characters;conceal subjective research of the author;introduce political and military action.Thucydides knows that speech has function that simple narrative can't do,so he try his best to increase the content of speech,so that it can play a role in many aspects. Therefore,the article considers that because the times provides favorable conditions, Thucydides fabricates lots of speeches with pragmatic thought.Speech displays the fundamental characteristic of pragmatic historiography and have exemplifying function for future generation, this is the important reason that Thucydides'work can exist so long,at the same time,it demonstrates that speech has very important role in Thucydides' history. In addition,speech has lots of functions in the work,which pure narrative can't realize.Consequently, speech has close links with Thucydides' pragmatic thought,and it is indispensable part in Thucydides' historiography.