What did Thucydides say causes war?

What did Thucydides say causes war?

• A. Interest, fear, and honor.
• B. Wealth, power, and revenge.
• C. Geography and climate.
• D. Religion and culture.

Answer: (A)

Thucydides explains that wars arise from power politics: states pursue their interests, the rise of one power provokes fear in others, and nations defend their honor and prestige on the international stage. In his view, the driving dynamic is not luck, geography, or religion, but the calculated actions people take when power shifts and security is at stake. The rise of Athens, for example, unsettled its rivals and triggered a chain of decisions aimed at preserving balance and reputation, pushing toward conflict. This combination—pursuit of interests, fear of being outmatched, and concerns about honor—best accounts for why war happens. It isn’t about wealth or revenge, nor about climate or culture, in his framework; rather, the outcome follows from how nations exercise power and respond to each other’s strength.

Thucydides explains that wars arise from power politics: states pursue their interests, the rise of one power provokes fear in others, and nations defend their honor and prestige on the international stage. In his view, the driving dynamic is not luck, geography, or religion, but the calculated actions people take when power shifts and security is at stake. The rise of Athens, for example, unsettled its rivals and triggered a chain of decisions aimed at preserving balance and reputation, pushing toward conflict. This combination—pursuit of interests, fear of being outmatched, and concerns about honor—best accounts for why war happens. It isn’t about wealth or revenge, nor about climate or culture, in his framework; rather, the outcome follows from how nations exercise power and respond to each other’s strength.