Herodotus: "The Father of History"

Paper Summary:

This paper argues that Herodotus is deserving of the title of "the Father of History and that his "The Histories" pays tremendous attention to accuracy as well as detail. It looks at how "The Histories" sheds a degree of bias that taints most writings of that era and how the topics chosen by Herodotus are vital to the recording of history.

From the Paper:

"The wide array of detailed subjects which The Histories of Herodotus cover is reason alone to earn him the title of "the Father of History." While other historians of his time focused purely on war epics and politics, the content of the work of Herodotus proves to be a rare treasure. Indeed, much of his book discussed the wars and politics of the period, but also included is much more. The descriptive geographies of the regions, particularly of Egypt and the Nile, are extraordinary. He included numerous cultural details of society and religion. Intriguing, are the "full and accurate" descriptions of the customs of the Indian tribes which otherwise may have been blotted out of history. ".

Sample of Sources Used:

• Evans, J. A. "Father of History or Father of Lies; The Reputation of Herodotus." The Classical Journal 64, no. 1 (1968): 11-17.
• Herodotus. The Histories. London: Penguin Books Ltd, 2003.
• Murray. "Early Greece." The Cambridge Ancient History III, no. 1 (1993): 92-101.
• Usilton, Dr. Larry W. Lecture attended by author, 11 July 2007, Wilmington, NC. Notes

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