Book 2, A History of My Times : Chapter 7, Book 7 Summary and Analysis

Here is the final of the 7 books that put together, make up the entire work by Xenophon. The preceding chapter ended with a note from the editor. She informs readers that the author has neglected to even mention the most important success of the entire military campaign. A city called Messene was re-established. The author starts this final book by reviewing the relationship between the two city-states most famous for being dominant in the region the most: Sparta and Athens.

Earlier in the book, Athens was forced to bear and to cope with the reality that Sparta had attained dominance. Prior to that time, Athens had been eminent. They might well have claimed that their inner troubles including their own civil war was what had weakened their...