Herodotus

The Histories

1. IDEA 1

   History begins as inquiry

   Herodotus, often called the father of history, set out to record the great deeds of Greeks and others so they would not be forgotten. He especially wanted to explain the causes of the war between the Greeks and the Persian Empire.

2. IDEA 2

   Wealth does not guarantee happiness

   Herodotus tells the story of Croesus, a rich king who asked the wise Solon who was the happiest man. Solon named humble people who had lived and died well, warning that fortune can change at any time. Croesus later lost his kingdom.

3. IDEA 3

   Many peoples, many customs

   Herodotus describes the customs of many peoples, including Egyptians, Scythians and Persians. He travelled widely and recorded what he saw and heard, though some stories were legends. He seems more curious about how people differ than eager to judge them.

All 8 ideas from The Histories →