Changes in the Academic Conversation: Herodotus
History of Historians will focus on how history, as it has been written, has changed over time, through those who have pursued the subject. This will be a periodical blog that will showcase one historian and delve into their influence on History.
I'll start this series, appropriately, with Herodotus. He is often described as "the father of History". Born around 480 b.c. Herodotus lived on the easter Aegean shore
s. His main body of work is The Histories which chronicles an assortment of subjects, but focuses mainly on the Persian invasion of Greece and the subsequent events.
Treaty writing and annalistic writing existed before Herodotus, but its main purpose was to prove to the gods the deeds that were being done for them. Herodotus stands apart from this tradition. He wasn't writing to the gods at all, but rather to posterity:
"So that human achievements may not become forgotten in time, and great and marvelous deeds... may not be without their glory; and especially to show why two people fought with each other."
-Herodotus
Herodotus' early form of History is often a mix of narrative and story with an Epic focus; it is considered Homeric in tone, he mixes both ancient beliefs with a historical purpose. Where Herodotus also separates himself is his treatment of first person inquiries and a suspension of judgment which is alien to the epic tradition. He would include in his narrative first hand accounts, verbatim speeches, and analysis of events and opinions. His bias is obvious enough, leaning toward Greeks, but his treatment of all peoples, including barbarians and Persians, lends itself to a more fair and considerate way of approaching annalistic writing.
"Herodotus is a garrulous, highly personal and conversational writer, with no aversion to the first person; when one meets him face to face, as it were... we know his opinions, and hear of his travels, the wonders he has seen, the stories told to him, and his not infrequent skepticism about them."
-John Burrow
Herodotus' legacy goes beyond being the first historian. He hit upon two major themes that still persist today, both in political thought and historiography. Listed below are those two themes.
1. Freedom over Tyranny
Greece became Herodotus' symbol for freedom over eastern despotism; liberty of his people over the servitude of the Persians became the major political theme of The Histories. One of the more pertinent and timely example is his story of Leonidas' 300. Recently made into a movie, 300 tells the tale of 300 Spartan soldiers who refuse to submit to tyranny and die for their principles. This video clip shows how this theme still resonates in our world today.
2. East vs. West
The other theme Herodotus expounds is summed up in the last paragraph of The Histories, that "soft countries breed soft men." This is tied to the theme above, but adds another element to the issue. His portrayal of easterners as being soft and preferring to live as slaves to one another has pervaded historiography and modern culture throughout the centuries. It still is an issue of contention and prejudice in our world today. Herodotus' treats Spartans and Greeks as superior to the hoards of the East both in stature and looks, as well as culture and politics. From the way we talk about our neighbors today, to the way we view their political and cultural ways, we continue to put off the impression that the West is somehow better than the East. Herodotus is one of the first to make this argument.
Herodotus' version of History can be summed up as observation with judgment. Using the Homeric tone and including ancients beliefs Herodotus falls short of separating himself from his world completely. But in his effort to write of human achievements not for the gods but for posterity Herodotus succeeds admirably. The Histories is still studied today, his themes still persist in our world, and his political ideals still resonate in ours.
I'll start this series, appropriately, with Herodotus. He is often described as "the father of History". Born around 480 b.c. Herodotus lived on the easter Aegean shore
s. His main body of work is The Histories which chronicles an assortment of subjects, but focuses mainly on the Persian invasion of Greece and the subsequent events.
Treaty writing and annalistic writing existed before Herodotus, but its main purpose was to prove to the gods the deeds that were being done for them. Herodotus stands apart from this tradition. He wasn't writing to the gods at all, but rather to posterity:
"So that human achievements may not become forgotten in time, and great and marvelous deeds... may not be without their glory; and especially to show why two people fought with each other."
-Herodotus
Herodotus' early form of History is often a mix of narrative and story with an Epic focus; it is considered Homeric in tone, he mixes both ancient beliefs with a historical purpose. Where Herodotus also separates himself is his treatment of first person inquiries and a suspension of judgment which is alien to the epic tradition. He would include in his narrative first hand accounts, verbatim speeches, and analysis of events and opinions. His bias is obvious enough, leaning toward Greeks, but his treatment of all peoples, including barbarians and Persians, lends itself to a more fair and considerate way of approaching annalistic writing.
"Herodotus is a garrulous, highly personal and conversational writer, with no aversion to the first person; when one meets him face to face, as it were... we know his opinions, and hear of his travels, the wonders he has seen, the stories told to him, and his not infrequent skepticism about them."
-John Burrow
Herodotus' legacy goes beyond being the first historian. He hit upon two major themes that still persist today, both in political thought and historiography. Listed below are those two themes.
1. Freedom over Tyranny
Greece became Herodotus' symbol for freedom over eastern despotism; liberty of his people over the servitude of the Persians became the major political theme of The Histories. One of the more pertinent and timely example is his story of Leonidas' 300. Recently made into a movie, 300 tells the tale of 300 Spartan soldiers who refuse to submit to tyranny and die for their principles. This video clip shows how this theme still resonates in our world today.
2. East vs. West
The other theme Herodotus expounds is summed up in the last paragraph of The Histories, that "soft countries breed soft men." This is tied to the theme above, but adds another element to the issue. His portrayal of easterners as being soft and preferring to live as slaves to one another has pervaded historiography and modern culture throughout the centuries. It still is an issue of contention and prejudice in our world today. Herodotus' treats Spartans and Greeks as superior to the hoards of the East both in stature and looks, as well as culture and politics. From the way we talk about our neighbors today, to the way we view their political and cultural ways, we continue to put off the impression that the West is somehow better than the East. Herodotus is one of the first to make this argument.
Herodotus' version of History can be summed up as observation with judgment. Using the Homeric tone and including ancients beliefs Herodotus falls short of separating himself from his world completely. But in his effort to write of human achievements not for the gods but for posterity Herodotus succeeds admirably. The Histories is still studied today, his themes still persist in our world, and his political ideals still resonate in ours.
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