帝国的政治理论——修昔底德与希罗多德

The Political Theory of the Empire: Thucydides and Herodotus

在西方古典史著传统中,希罗多德与修昔底徳双峰并立。从著述笔法到现实关怀,修昔底德与希罗多德彼此烘托,相映成趣。在希罗多德笔下,曾经的波斯帝国正是目下雅典帝国的先声;在修昔底德笔下,目下的雅典帝国将是一切未来帝国的预演。在希腊世界从自发性的联盟秩序向强制性的帝国秩序过渡的关键时刻,帝国的政治理论开启的与其说是一场庆祝式狂欢,还不如说是一场悲剧性沉思的开端。

Herodotus and Thucydides have been regarded as the Twin-Stars in Western classical historiography.Either in terms of writing techniques or in terms of practical concerns,Herodotus and Thucydides highlighted each other s merits.The Persian Empire is described by Herodotus as the forerunner of the Athenian Empire while Thucydides depicts the Athenian Empire as the preview of all up-coming Empires.At the critical shift of initiating the Alliance Order of the Greek World to the Enforced Imperial Order,the political theory of Herodotus and Thucydides inspired the early tragic meditation rather than a carnival celebration.