Herodotus biography essay introduction

The ancient Greek historian Herodotus is one of the most significant historians in history. His magnum opus, The Histories, was a detailed account of the Greco-Persian Wars that occurred in the early 5th century BC, and was the first time a writer had ever made such a systematic, thorough study of the past or attempted to try to explain the cause-and-effect of its events.

Herodotus contribution to history pdf

After Herodotus, historical analysis became an indispensable part of intellectual and political life. A romanticised statue of Herodotus in his hometown of Halicarnassus, modern Bodrum, Turkey. Gathering from his own works and accounts of his travels, Herodotus was a member of a prominent, influential family and received an excellent education.

It is known via the The Suda, a 10th-century Byzantine encyclopedia of the ancient Mediterranean world , that Herodotus was the son of Lyxes and Dryo, and the brother of Theodorus, and that he was also related to Panyassis — an epic poet of the time. At the time, his hometown Halicarnassus was within the Persian Empire , and it is believed that Herodotus was exiled from there by the tyrant Lygdamis, then lived in the island of Samos where he learnt the Ionian dialect until returning to participate in the revolt that eventually overthrew Lygdamis.

When did herodotus die

Herodotus spent his life working on his masterpiece, The Histories — a detailed account of the Greco-Persian Wars that took place between and BC. The work also covers the lives of prominent kings and other famous battles such Thermopylae , Artemisium, Salamis , Plataea, and Mycale. For some of these battles such as the Battle of Marathon , most of what is known is from Herodotus.

The Histories was written in the Ionic dialect of ancient Greek. After Herodotus died, editors divided The Histories into nine books, each containing a different theme including the origins of the conflict, the various battles, and the aftermath. Herodotus was the first historian who attempted to record a comprehensive and reliable account of the past, rather than just stories or legends, and is known for his use of a wide range of sources, including personal observations, interviews, and written records.

By doing this, Herodotus believed that his work would ensure that the events of the past would not be forgotten and would serve as a valuable lesson for future generations. Herodotus was also interested in geography and anthropology. He travelled extensively throughout the ancient world during his lifetime, visiting Egypt, Persia, and several Greek city-states amongst other places, collecting information and conducting research for his work.

He provided extensive, detailed and accurate descriptions of the various customs, cultures and beliefs of the peoples he encountered and experienced during his travels in The Histories.