First, it would be worthwhile to clear up some problems that hinder the clarification of the fundamental problems of historiology. While these errors are numerous, considering even a few of them will help eliminate a certain mode of approaching these themes that leads directly to an obscuring of concrete history, not because of a lack of data but rather because of the specific interference of the historian in dealing with the data in question.

Even in the writings of the “Father of History” an interest can clearly be seen in emphasizing the differences between his people and the barbarians. (2) And in Titus Livius the narrative is transformed in order to contrast the virtues of the old Republic with the period of the Empire in which the author lives. (3) This purposeful method of presenting facts and customs is foreign neither to historians of the East or the West. They have, from the very beginnings of written narrative, constructed a particular history out of the landscape of their epoch. Affected as they were by their times, many manipulated the facts not with any malice, but on the contrary, considering that their task was to bring out the “historical truth” that had been suppressed or hidden by the powerful. (4)

(2) Herodotus, 484–420 b.c.e. See e.g. Herodotus: The Histories (New York: Norton, 1992).

In: Historiological Discussions, Silo

Chapter 1: The Past as Viewed from the Present 1.1 The Distortion of Mediated History 

Herodotus (484 - 430/420 BC)

Topics

• Persian Wars: A central theme in Herodotus' “Histories” is the Persian Wars, which were of crucial importance for the further development of Greek antiquity. He describes the conflicts between the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire in detail.

• Culture and customs of different peoples: Herodotus devoted much attention to describing the cultures, customs and traditions of the various peoples he encountered on his travels. These include detailed accounts of Egypt, Babylonia, Scythia and many other regions.

• Geography and Travel: Herodotus is considered one of the first geographers. His ‘Histories’ contain numerous geographical descriptions and reports of his travels in the then known world.

• Human nature and power: Herodotus reflects on the nature of power, the vicissitudes of human destiny and the ethical dimensions of leadership and ambition. He examines the moral and philosophical aspects of rule and human endeavour.

Major works

1. ‘Histories’ (also known as ‘The Histories of Herodotus’): This is Herodotus' best-known and most important work. It comprises nine books, named after the nine muses, and describes the history of Greece and the Middle East from the Trojan War to the campaign of the Persian king Xerxes.

2. ‘Περίοδος γῆς’ (Periodos ges): This is described as a geo- and ethnographic work containing a description of the then-known world.

It is important to note that the ‘Histories’ are the only fully preserved work by Herodotus and are often considered his major work. The ‘Periodos ges’ is mentioned, but it is not clear whether it is a separate work or part of the ‘Historien’. Herodotus' “Historien” are considered to be the oldest fully preserved prose works in Greek literature and one of the most fundamental testimonies of Western culture.

Influence

Herodotus is often referred to as the ‘father of historiography’. His work ‘Histories’ set standards for the systematic collection and critical evaluation of information that are still valid today. Cicero recognised his importance and called him the ‘father of history’.

Herodotus introduced the systematic evaluation of written sources, eyewitness accounts and inscriptions. These methods were adopted and further developed by later historians.

His work influenced numerous ancient authors, including Prokopios, and remained an important source of historical and geographical information until late antiquity and the Middle Ages.

Herodotus coined the terms monarchy, oligarchy and democracy, which had a decisive influence on the development of political theory.

His detailed descriptions of the customs and traditions of different peoples contributed significantly to our understanding of ancient cultures and influenced ethnology and ethnography.