The afterlife of herodotus and thucydides, north, mack. While herodotus was labelled as the father of history by cicero, partly for. Get an answer for what are some similarities and differences between pericless funeral oration and the melian dialogue. What is the difference between herodotus and thucydides in terms. The first book on your list is by vincent azoulay, and its called pericles of athens.
Herodotus has provided his systematic methods and vivid narratives, while thucydides has contributed his objectivity and cautiousness to how western civilization interprets history. Thucydides is regarded as the scientific historian, relying on facts, dates, events and. This is due to the methods that thucydides employed whilst writing his history of the peloponnesian war. Soundings and reflections chapter in edited volume. What are the similarities andor differences between these. To objectively measure the difference in methods between the two of them, i used a. At the beginning of the histories, herodotus sets out his reasons for writing it. The first six of books talk about legens and traditions of the people of the ancient world. In these books, word choice is changed in the retelling of the same story. To make his history livelier, herodotus included stories that were not necessarily true. His nine book history of the persian wars is gossipy. Thucydides has been dubbed the father of scientific history by those who accept his claims to. This is seen when herodotus chooses not to call the ionians barbaric but says they are poor. Herodotus opens by stating he wishes to record the deeds of the past, and that he wants to show how the war between the.
The volume includes an introduction by the editors which addresses our changing view of how. Stylistic and methodological comparison in herodotus. Herodotus wrote about the wars between persia and greece. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read thucydides. Discuss the basic differences between the athenians and the spartans.
Herodotus visited babylon, phoenicia, egypt, southern russia, and athens, settling in the athenian colony of thurii in southern italy in 443 b. The past century and a half of our era has seen a plethora of research, analysis and comment on the two major greek historians of antiquity. We know little about the personal life of herodotus. As an aristocrat, thucydides idealized the periclean model of democracy. Similarities and differences between herodotus the histories and 300. As a roman when he wrote romes history he wrote it as if it was already going to be great. Having introduced cyrus as croesuss conqueror, herodotus relates cyruss rise and that of the persians. Thucydides was one of the best authors of history i have ever read, but the narrative and the way he writes is not very suitable for a audiobook without having studied the ancient greeks and this book before. Mark the statements that describe a difference between the historical writings of herodotus and thucydides. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Pelling traces the similarities between herodotus s approach to physical phenomena why does the nile flood.
The landmark thucydides is the first book in robert strasslers excellent series of annotated translations of ancient history. What makes these editions so different are the various additions that make the text easier to understand. What are the common things between thucydides and herodotus. A similarity between the film 300 and herodotus the histories is the character of ephialtes. Herodotus makes the jump from the epic poems of homer to secular history, but he does not forget the roots from which his genre came. Where does the peloponnesian war rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far. The differences between herodotus and thucydides are in style, interpretation, and purpose. David grenes translation of herodotus the history is a good version of the greek historians magnum opus. It is possible that herodotus employed the same structures and methods of the epic poet because of the similarities in their work. The relationship between thucydides and herodotus, the founding fathers of western history, has always fuelled heated debates between scholars. Herodotus was curious and learned everything he could about the nongreek world.
History of the peloponnesian war book by thucydides. The book is an investigation of the origins of the grecopersian wars the history of the peloponnesian war is a historical account of the peloponnesian war 431404 bc written by thucydides. In the first sentence of the histories, herodotus explained why he wrote his monumental work. Analysis of the history of the peloponnesian war, by thucydides. There have also appeared many studies of both historians, either in book or article form, most of which are well known and cited often in this. There may be some instances in livy or herodotus where they use this technique, but thucydides uses this exclusively. Thucydides and herodotus examines the relevant relationship between these historians which is considered, especially nowadays, by historians and philologists to be more significant than previously. Thucydides, the younger man by about 15 years, produced a forthright account of the war that broke out between athens and sparta in 431bc, dished up without fear or favour. Lets talk about the books youve chosen to better understand thucydides and his time. The histories the only work produced by herodotus is widely cited as the worlds first history book. In particular, passage eightysix describes the practice of an ancient ritual that has fascinated people for millennia.
While the greeks who homer wrote about in the iliad were, in many respects, dissimilar to the greeks in thucydides history of the peloponnesian war, this stands in marked contrast to the profound similarities that exist between contemporary cultures and those that thucydides wrote of. In truth it is not really fair to compare herodotus to thucydides. What are the theme in the poem epitaph for a monster of our times by david malouf. Similarities and differences between herodotus and thucydides histories have been the topic of much research and dissertation in classic scholarship. Be able to summarize the basic arguments on both sides corinth vs. The histories was never fully taken on face value and never will be, but as. May 03, 2012 thucydides and herodotus examines the relevant relationship between these historians which is considered, especially nowadays, by historians and philologists to be more significant than previously realized. In order to compare and contrast the historical methods, interests, and objectives of herodotus and thucydides we must examine the characteristics of their literary method, including the narrative, description, authorial analysis, interest in accuracy, etc. In general, herodotus involves an extensive amount of theology to manifest his moral pedagogy. What is the difference between herodotus and thucydides in. This edited collection looks at two of the most important ancient greek historians living in the 5th century bce who are considered to be the founders of the western tradition of historiography. Compare their historical method, tone, approach to the material, style, etc.
Nov 09, 2011 a comparison of herodotus and thucydides the persian and peloponnesian wars were both significant conflicts that tested independence. Similarities and differences between herodotus the. Herodotus explored centuries of contacts between the ancient greeks and the persian empire, culminating in the persian wars of the early fifth century bc. Whilst herodotus, a nearcontemporary of his, is often hailed as the father of history, thucydides himself has been dubbed the father of scientific history. Jul 26, 2018 differences between herodotus and thucydides. At a glance, both herodotus the histories and thucydides history of the. The relationship between thucydides and herodotus, the founding fathers of. Indeed stadters paper models two ways that many of the other contributions take up the matter of the connections between herodotus and thucydides. While herodotus was labelled as the father of history by cicero, partly for first using history historia to explain his craft.
In his critical treatise on thucydides the hellenistic scholar dionysius of halicarnassus discussed the historians preceding thucydides so that he could better illustrate the originality and genius of his subject. However, this title has come with some controversy, as herodotus relied on a mixture of orally passed down accounts, myths, and rumors. Herodotus entertained athenians and other greeks by reading parts of his work for a fee. Herodotus and the question why by christopher pelling. The reader will find it difficult to keep all the people and countries straight.
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. Numerous accounts of long arguments or debates between two sides of a potential war can be found in thucydides where nothing but human interaction can be seen as the cause of the conflict. Both men have been granted the father of history accolade, but chronologically herodotus must be the winner of the distinction as thucydides picks up where he leaves off. The history of herodotus book i the first book of the histories, called clio this is the showing forth of the inquiry of herodotus of halicarnassos, to the end that1 neither the deeds of men may be forgotten by lapse of time, nor the works2 great and marvellous, which have been produced some by hellenes and some by barbarians, may. Cicero, a roman politician and lawyer, regarded herodotus as the father of history, a title that has remained with him for centuries luce. Livy and the greek historians from herodotus to dionysius. Herodotus and thucydides peloponnesian war by courtney askew. Peloponnesian war chronicled nearly 30 years of war and tension between athens and sparta first writer to interpret the war in purely human terms rather then searching for divine causes divided into 8 books that cover 21 of the 27 years the. Herodotus quoted many other written sources in his history. Yu found historical records such detailed and vivid scenes as in the last few books of herodotus, like the battles of marathon and thermopylae and the sea battles at salamis between the greek and the persian navies, or the moving description of the illfated sicilian expedition in books 6 and 7 of thucydides yu 29. Histories by herodotus and history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides illustrated kindle edition by herodotus, thucydides, tamblyn, nicholas, eglund, katherine. His history of the peloponnesian war recounts the fifthcentury bc war between sparta and athens until the year 411 bc. With essential historical data conveyed, we can return back to our comparison and contrast of the two historians. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
A comparison of herodotus and thucydides essay 611 words. He detested any reliance on the supernatural, abhorred subjectivity and strived to be as objecti. Herodotus, livy, and thucydides herodutus herodotus is the greek man who is called the father of history. Pericles was a general, the leader we most associate with athens golden age, but he ended up dying of plague before the end of the peloponnesian war. The introduction provides context for the translation to come.
By ben potter there has been a great deal of focus on the differences between herodotus and thucydides. Herodotus, on the other hand, is seen as the sensational historian, relying on a blend of oral accounts, gossip, myths, rumors, and synthesizing it with his own view of the events, allowing the reader to make of it what they will. The greek writer herodotus is considered the worlds first historian, the father of history. One major theme can be found in book 2, chapter 53, where thucydides describes the situation in athens after it had been stricken with plague during the peloponnesian war. An introduction for the common reader ebook written by perez zagorin.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading histories by herodotus and history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides. Herodotus, the so called father of history, has stark contrast to thucydides, the so called father of realpolitik, on the way of how they interpret the historical causation. Analysis of the history of the peloponnesian war, by. As digital tools have demonstrated the data to infer the differences between both historians, their impact on the subject of history is unquestionable. The differences between herodotus and thucydides are in style, interpretation and purpose. He is known for having written the book the histories greek. Thucydides was an athenian general and historian, most notable for his work known as the history of the peloponnesian war. Fragment from herodotus histories, book viii on papyrus oxyrhynchus 2099. C was a greek historian who wrote the history of the peloponnesian war. Similarities and differences between herodotus the histories. Not all of what he wrote was actually accurate though and he wrote romes history as if it was a great novel. Buy a cheap copy of history of the peloponnesian war book by thucydides.
Herodotus covers a good deal of culture and the interrelations between people and countries while often allowing himself to be sidetracked with interesting if not so relevant side notes, whereas thucydides relates the peloponnesian war with attention to the most important events, speeches, and persons involved without going into even a quarter. Thucydides s history of the peloponnesian war breaks off before the story is over. Thucydides wrote about the civil war between athens and sparta. Thucydides, the younger man by about 15 years, produced a forthright account of the war that broke out between athens and.
The histories complete audio book recording book i clio 2 of 2. Thucydides was probably connected through family to the athenian statesman and general miltiades and his son cimon, leaders of the old aristocracy supplanted by the radical democrats. Thucydides written 400 years before the birth of christ, this detailed contemporary account of the struggle between athens and sparta stands an excellent chance of. Together these ancient greek writers became the first true historians in western civilization. Stylistic and methodological comparison in herodotus and thucydides. This book looks at two of the most important ancient greek historians living in the fifth century bce who are considered to be the founders of the western tradition of historiography.
God king of the persians makes daily libations from book seven of herodotus. Compare and contrast the historical methods uk essays. Herodotus was not a blind poet, but his did tell a tale. A comparison of herodotus and thucydides the persian and peloponnesian wars were both significant conflicts that tested independence. Similarities and differences between herodotus and thucydides histories have been the topic of much research and dissertation in classic scholarship analyzing their work on issues of historical truth and interpretation, historys relation to myth, the fascination with origins, the differences between chronicle and narrative history.
Seminal commentaries have appeared, notably those of macan 1895, 1908, of how and wells 19, and of asheri, lloyd and corcella 19881998 on herodotus, and of gomme, andrewes and dover 19451981, and of hornblower 19912008 on thucydides. In thucydides, the history of the peloponnesian war, there are many themes that are illustrated throughout various passages. 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. What parts of herodotus histories are accurate, and what parts are inaccurate. After detailing the armed conflict between the athenians and the spartans and their respective allies between. Herodotus passes no judgement, but reports what he has heard, even when plainly ridiculous. My work is not a piece of writing designed to meet the taste of an immediate public, but was done to last for ever, thucydides ancient greek historian thucydides spellbinding firsthand account chronicles the devastating 27yearlong war between athens and sparta during the 5th century bc. Jul 23, 2018 by ben potter there has been a great deal of focus on the differences between herodotus and thucydides. Thucydides is regarded as the scientific historian, relying on facts, dates, events and personalities to present the factual narrative of history. The last three have to do with the battles between the greeks and persians. This book examines the relevant relationship between these historians which is considered, especially nowadays, by historians and philologists to be more significant than previously realized. Thucydides is often taken as a model of objectivity, bringing history into the orbit of science.
In the end, herodotus has done a great service for many generations, by putting down, as best he could, his understanding of the history of the various actors of his time and before. Theory and practice in the histories of herodotus and thucydides, is. Thucydides discussed the importance of the polis state, the individual, freedom, and the requirement for people to have public responsibilities as well as being afforded privacy in their life. This region, he reports, is a sandy desert, and the sand there contains a wealth of fine gold dust. Hardly any justification is needed for the topic of this book. Thucydides never mentioned herodotus by name but is thought to have taken a. What are some similarities and differences between pericles. Thucydides book the history of the peloponnesian war is a well. This partitioning was a development of the third century b. Herodotus is seen as responsible for emphasising the eastwest contrast and conflict. At sunrise xerxes made libations, after which he waited until the time when the forum is wont to fill, and then began his advance. Documenting these wars was obviously hard at this point of civilization, but two men did, and are now known as the great writers of their time. Thucydides and herodotus examines the relevant relationship between these historians which is considered, especially nowadays, by historians and philologists to be more significant than previously realized. Thucydides has been dubbed the father of scientific history due to his strict standards of evidence.
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