Herodotus uses the gradual expansion of the persian empire to. Few history books since can compare for sheer drama with herodotus s narrative of the persian invasions of greece. What specifically sets herodotus and his enquiry apart, then, is the protoscientific way he. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Delineating herodotuss appropriation of homeric language and ideology, for example, is accorded just as much importance as evaluating the historical accuracy of herodotuss narrative. Reading herodotus in english has never been so much fun. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus. Herodotus has 360 books on goodreads with 121711 ratings. It is divided into nine books named for the muses a division made by a later editor. Nevertheless, donald lateiners excellent introduction allowed even a novice like me to gain an understanding of the marvelous world which herodotus describes, of the historian himself and of his methods, and of the lasting influence of the histories.
For herodotus history writing was an end in itself and not a tool for demagogues and sophists to hatch ambitious conquests. Volume 1, number 1 june 1993 herodotus, the histories walter. Herodotus claims to have traveled extensively around the ancient world, conducting interviews and collecting stories for his book, almost all of which covers territories of the persian empire. Cicero called herodotus the father of history, and his only work, the histories, is considered the first true piece of historical writing in western literature. We are witness to the birth pangs of historical method. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Unfortunately, not enough of hecataeus work has survived for us to judge just how dependent upon it herodotus was. The histories was at some point divided into the nine books that appear in modern editions, conventionally named after the nine. The history of herodotus by herodotus, part of the internet classics archive. Woods, for example, in his edition of the first book published in 1873 gives a list of readings for the first and second books, in which he almost invariably prefers the authority. Project gutenberg offers 61,565 free ebooks to download. Herodotus was the first writer to evaluate historical, geographical, and. His invention earned him the title the father of history.
See all books authored by herodotus, including the histories, and selections from herodotus, and more on. Herodotus report on distant places and bygone times was constructed both to combat his hellenic contemporaries ethnic prejudices and conceptual limitations, and to. Five systems of explanation are outlined and illustrated. Nevertheless, donald lateiners excellent introduction allowed even a novice like me to gain an understanding of the marvelous world which herodotus describes, of the historian himself and. The historical method of herodotus phoenix supplementary. Unquestionably the best english translation of herodotus to have appeared in the past halfcenturyi am in awe of tom hollands achievement, and have no doubt it will bear rich fruit in bringing herodotus to public attention edith hall, times literary supplement lively, engaging version of the historiesan admirable translation. At the beginning of the histories, herodotus sets out his reasons for writing it. Buy the histories penguin hardback classics second impression by herodotus, cartledge, paul, cartledge, paul, holland, tom isbn. Jun 27, 2014 the histories of herodotus of halicarnassus is considered the first work of history in western literature. It is useful and functional, although knox introductions to the iliad and the odyssey fagles translations strike me as better at putting the work in its place. Describes how a small and quarrelsome band of greek city states united to repel the might of the persian empire. But, in assessing his ethnographic method, it is equally important to note that herodotus understood that those boundaries were permeable. After a short digression on thracian customs, herodotus tells us about megabazus conquest of thrace and the ensuing submission of eastern macedonia.
The history of herodotus volume 1 by herodotus free ebook. John marincola writes in his introduction to the penguin edition of the histories that there are certain identifiable pieces in the early books of herodotus s work which could be labeled as performance pieces. The ionian historian argued that the discipline rather served as an indifferent record of what once was, in order to grasp the true state of affairs. Like many important ancient greeks, herodotus was not only not born in athens but wasnt even born in what we think of as europe. Erato aristagoras, the author of the ionian revolt, perished in the way which i have described. The story of croesus in book i gives herodotus the occasion to foreshadow. After herodotus died, editors divided his histories into nine books. University of toronto press, scholarly publishing division. Jul 01, 2001 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. But herodotus was the first not only to record the past but also to treat it as a philosophical problem, or research project, that could yield knowledge of human behavior. A native of halicarnassus on the coast of asia minor modern bodrum, turkey, he traveled extensively, writing lively descriptions of the lands he saw and the peoples he encountered. The stated purpose of the book is to offer an introduction to herodotus for students making their first approach to the history of western civilisation or classical. The histories of herodotus of halicarnassus is considered the first work of history in western literature.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. By purchasing books through this website, you support our nonprofit organization. Herodotus was an ancient greek historian who was born in halicarnassus in the persian empire modernday bodrum, turkey. With lucid prose, herodotuss account of the rise of the persian empire and its dramatic war with the greek city sates set a standard for narrative nonfiction that continues to this day. Herodotus was the first writer in the west to conceive the value of creating a record of the recent past. Delineating herodotus s appropriation of homeric language and ideology, for example, is accorded just as much importance as evaluating the historical accuracy of herodotus s narrative. Herodotus portrays the conflict as one between the forces of slavery the persians on the one hand, and freedom the athenians and the confederacy of greek citystates which united against the invaders on the other. Not everything that herodotus reports, though, can be so. The introduction provides context for the translation to come. In tales such as that of gygeswho murders candaules, the king of lydia, and unsurps his throne. Herodotus himself mentions the work of hecataeus of miletus, who wrote two books of historical geography and was a major source in herodotus writings on egypt.
Books by herodotus sorted by popularity project gutenberg. Herodotus was a greek historian living in ionia during the fifth century b. Herodotus emerges in all his charm and complexity as a writer and the first historian in the western tradition, perhaps unique in the way he has seen the interrelation of fact and fantasy. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue. We do not know what sources herodotus had available to him as he tried to put together a depiction of croesus and his reign. Often called the father of history, his histories are divided into nine books named after the nine muses. The history of herodotus volume 1 all you can books. The histories, which is the oldest history book in western civilization, was completed around 425 b. The book is worth the read if for nothing else than to see words well used and well written. After herodotus, historical analysis became an indispensable part of intellectual. Through this method herodotus created history, a science.
The historys structure is more complex than that, and so is the authors method of. Herodotus, the histories, book 1, chapter 1, section 0. The histories by herodotus overdrive rakuten overdrive. This is the first time that i ever studied herodotus. The historical method of herodotus book depository.
The histories, herodotus the histories of herodotus is the founding work of history in western literature. The histories by herodotus, first edition abebooks. He is known for having written the book the histories greek. The first five books look into the past to try to explain the rise and fall of the. John marincola writes in his introduction to the penguin edition of the histories that there are certain identifiable pieces in the early books of herodotuss work which could be labeled as performance pieces. Herodotus is not only the father of the art and the science of historical writing but also one of the western traditions most compelling storytellers. List of books and articles about herodotus online research. Frequently giving rise to colorful digressions, this book blends fact and legend to offer a compelling greek view of the world of the fifth century bc. The historical method of herodotus explores the intellectual habits and the literary principles of this pioneer writer of prose. The historical method of herodotus phoenix supplementary volumes 9780802076847. The histories of herodotus, completed in the second half of the 5th century bc, is generally regarded as the first work of history and the first great masterpiece of nonfiction writing.
Justin marozzi in the way of herodotus, as he follows in the footsteps of one of the worlds first travel writers and, yes, father of history. While much of the information he gives has proved to be astonishingly accurate, he also entertains us with delightful. Herodotus would have made his researches known to the larger world through oral recitations to a public crowd. Herodotus, with his keen observation of cultural detail, was a master at drawing cultural boundaries between greek and barbarian, democracy and despotism, west and east, persian and scythian. Written about 440 bc, the histories tell the story of the war between the persian empire and the greek citystates in the 5th century bc. In his account the historical and the cultural influence each other. That classic work, the first comprehensive attempt at secular narrative history, is the starting point of western historical writing. The historical method of herodotus explores the intellectual habits and the literary. The historical method of herodotus explores the intellectual habits and. Herodotus encyclopedic method did not leave much room for analysis. The historical method of herodotus phoenix supplementary volumes book book details. Herodotus was thus born a persian subject, and such he con tinued until he was thirty or fiveandthirty years of age. David grenes translation of herodotus the history is a good version of the greek historians magnum opus. The elucidation of herodotus ideas and attitudes has been hindered by the unparalleled bulk of hishistoriesand by the absence of an explicit program of method and purpose.
Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. At the same time, herodotus is also a master storyteller. The historical method of herodotus by donald lateiner. The history of herodotus volume 1 internet archive. He was born in the essentially dorian hellenic or greek, yes. The final chapter the failure and success of herodotus takes up herodotus isolation with respect to literary technique, scope and creative vision, setting him apart from his successors. Herodotus crowds his frescolike pages with all shades of humanity. Histories by herodotus historical reference books at the. We may think all the famous ancient greeks came from athens, but its not true. The father of history, as cicero called him, and a writer possessed of remarkable narrative gifts, enormous scope, and considerable charm, herodotus has always been beloved by readers wellversed in the classics. The ambitious breadth of his subject, concern with rationally explaining the causes of human action, and critical and empirical attitude he displays toward his sources of information have led to the distinction herodotus enjoys of being considered the pioneer of the historical method. He traveled extensively through the lands of the mediterranean and the black sea and collected stories, and then recounted his experiences with the varied people and cultures he encountered. The historical method of herodotus phoenix supplementary volumes author. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures.
Here are presented the results of the enquiry carried out by herodotus of halicarnassus. Written in 440 bc in the ionic dialect of classical greek, the histories serves as a record of the ancient traditions, politics, geography, and clashes of various cultures that were known in western asia, northern africa and greece at that time. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Consider for example his opening statement in the beginning of the book. Despite herodotuss historical significance, little is known about his personal life. Readers who are interested in herodotus from either a literary critical angle or from a historical angle will therefore both find useful material in this commentary. This 147page guide for histories by herodotus includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 9 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. Meanwhile histiaeus, tyrant of miletus, who had been allowed by darius to leave susa, came down to sardis. Divine jealousy, fate and the cycle, divinities, act and retribution, historical analysis. Herodotus was the first writer to evaluate historical, geographical, and archaeological material critically. On his arrival, being asked by artaphernes, the sardian satrap, what he thought was the reason that the ionians had rebelled, he made answer that he could not conceive, and it had astonished.
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