Herodotus versus Thucydides

In this lecture, Professor John Bowers compares and contrasts the two earliest Greek historians, Herodotus and Thucydides, and their impact on the writing of history. He discusses how Herodotus and Thucydides differed in their sources, methods, styles, and purposes, and how they reflected the values and cultures of their times. He also explores how Herodotus and Thucydides influenced later historians, such as Diodorus Siculus and Polybius, and how they are still relevant for modern readers and writers.

This lecture is part of the course “The Western Literary Canon in Context” by The Teaching Company. The course covers 36 works of literature from the ancient to the modern era, and examines their historical, cultural, and literary significance.