Greek and Persian Wars | Herodotus Invents History (Lecture 14)

Lecture 14: The historian Herodotus of Halicarnassus is often referred to as the “father of history.” His Histories sets out to record the Greek and Persian wars and is considered the first example of modern historical writing; it contains some fascinating accounts, including the strange world of the Scythians, the Phoenician circumnavigation of Africa, and the silent trading practices with Africans. Herodotus’s greatness as a historian lies in his balanced view of both the Greeks and the Persians, his insight in identifying the overarching conflict between East and West (still an element of history in the modern world), and his willingness to record multiple accounts of events and to identify his sources. Endlessly fascinated by people and their stories and optimistic about the human condition, Herodotus was hopeful that an account of the Greek and Persian wars would renew feelings of unity among the feuding Greeks of his own time.

Recommended Reading:
De Sélincourt, The World of Herodotus.
Myres, Herodotus: Father of History.