The next four books tell the story of the war itself, from the invasions of greece by persian emperors darius and xerxes to the greek triumphs at. My aim is to propose a more complex view of the relationship between herodotus and thucydides. View herodotus, thucydides, and historiography research papers on academia. How did the history writing of thucydides differ from that. Thucydides, who wrote a history of the peloponnesian war between the two power blocs led by athens and by sparta 431404 b. While herodotus was labelled as the father of history by cicero, partly for first using history historia to explain his craft. The state of greece from the earliest times to the commencement of the peloponnesian war. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue. Herodotus wrote about the persian wars and is credited with. Thucydides seems to believe acting from a position of strength is the best route to leading to a good life, a good example is when he recalls communication between athens and melos in the melian dialogues.
Herodotus visited babylon, phoenicia, egypt, southern russia, and athens, settling in the athenian colony of thurii in southern italy in 443 b. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war, book i. In the history, thucydides attempts to disclose the underlying causes of the war between athens and sparta. 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. Herodotus passes no judgement, but reports what he has heard, even when plainly ridiculous. However, thucydides history was never finished, and as such, ends midsentence in the winter of 411 bce. After his death, thucydides history was subdivided into eight books. Click more information to see individual titles and access sample pages, including contents page, sample text, maps, art, introduction, chronological outline, appendices, and.
Herodotus wrote about the wars between persia and greece. For a balanced treatment of the differences between thucydides and herodotus, see hornblower 034 ch. Herodotus, thucydides, and historiography research papers. 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. Learn thucydides herodotus with free interactive flashcards. Herodotus wrote about the wars between greece and persia, aka the persian war, while thucydides wrote about the war between athens and sparta, aka the peloponnesian war. Herodotus has provided his systematic methods and vivid narratives, while thucydides has contributed his objectivity and cautiousness to how western civilization interprets history. Crane lo31 illuminates some of these differences statistically. This partitioning was a development of the third century b. Thucydides wrote about the civil war between athens and sparta. With essential historical data conveyed, we can return back to our comparison and contrast of the two historians. At times, issue refers to timing, such as the first.
A historian for our time thucydides may have been the more trustworthy historian, but herodotus would have been more fun to share a wineskin withand is a better guide to the godfilled. 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. Compare the ways that herodotus and thucydides approached. List of books and articles about thucydides online. His history of the peloponnesian war recounts the fifthcentury bc war between sparta and athens until the year 411 bc. The history of the peloponnesian war britannica great books of the western world, 6. What is the difference between the works of herodotus and. His works are important because he was the first to pursue a scientific approach.
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. The beginnings of thucydides and herodotus as rhetorical texts. The differences between herodotus and thucydides are in style, interpretation, and purpose. Thucydides persian wars 149 greater than the persian wars. Issue a group of books issued by the publisher as a discrete unit. This expressed kinship between the greek allies is evident and it stands in stark contrast against the references used towards the macedonians who were addressed as foreigners. Thucydides himself, as i understand it, was not the plainest writerhis own style is complex and layered, and it seems as though all the translations i was able to look at reflect this. His great contribution to history and historiography is contained in this one dense history of the 27year war between athens and sparta, each with their respective allies. To make his history livelier, herodotus included stories that were not necessarily true. Herodotus quoted many other written sources in his history. As digital tools have demonstrated the data to infer the differences between both historians, their impact on the subject of history is unquestionable. Thucydides, greatest of ancient greek historians and author of the history of the peloponnesian war, which recounts the struggle between athens and sparta in the 5th century bc. Eventually, thucydides and herodotus became close enough for both to be interred in thucydides tomb in athens. Thucydides history of the peloponnesian war is such a study of international relations.
Herodotus was writing about the relatively cheerful subject for a greek of a conflict which the united greek cities won against a foreign invader, while thucydides topic. They are both considered fathers of their respective branches of historiography. The history of the peloponnesian war britannica great books of the western world, 6 herodotus, thucydides, robert maynard hutchins, george rawlinson, richard crawley on. Typically early printed books and especially manuscripts. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. For those readers who are only interested in the events of the war itself, donald kagans the peloponnesian war might be a better choice.
He thus had opportunity to acquaint himself with both the. When analyzing the writings of herodotus and thucydides, the authors. Thucydides is regarded as the scientific historian, relying on facts, dates, events and personalities to present the factual narrative of history. What are the common things between thucydides and herodotus. Thucydides history of the peloponnesian war, the first major contribution to greek historiography after herodotuss histories, is a much grimmer work than its predecessor.
Of herodotus of halicarnassus, this is the presentation of his inquiry historie. Choose from 40 different sets of thucydides herodotus flashcards on quizlet. Mark the statements that describe a difference between the. Herodotus was an ancient greek historian who was born in halicarnassus in the persian empire modernday bodrum, turkey. He is known for having written the book the histories greek.
Whatever his desire, stated in his preface, to pinpoint the root cause of the persian wars the rather abstract word he uses, aitie. Herodotus and thucydides peloponnesian war by courtney. Thucydides account of the war is one of the earliest scholarly works of history hellenica written by xenophon accounts for the final seven years of the peloponnesian war that was not covered by thucydides. The history was divided into separate books by later scholars, but is now, in its. Herodotus and thucydides take two different approaches in recording history. Thucydides, the peloponnesian war, book 1, chapter 1. The differences between herodotus and thucydides are in style, interpretation and purpose. A comparison of herodotus and thucydides essay 611 words. Herodotus and thucydides were the first historians, but their work was very different. What is different about the works of herodotus and thucydides. Aesthetically, i really like the newer series with its crisp poliphilus. Among the greeks there exist a common bond, a community of blood and language, temples and rituals and common customs.
Free herodotus and thucydides greek historians essay. Thucydides was athenian historian who also served as an athenian general during the war. Not a philosophical work, it is considered of great importance within political and philosophical enquiry. Hardly any justification is needed for the topic of this book. The volume consists of books 2 of livys history of rome and conforms to the style of other volumes in this series, such as the herodotus and thucydides both 2006 described above. Thucydides only described events that happened during his own lifetime, specifically the pellopenesian war. 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.
Essential passages from the works of four fathers of historyherodotuss history, thucydides history of the peloponnesian war, xenophons anabasis, and polybiuss histories. Imprint satement of place, publisher and date of publication on a books title page. As a general in the peloponnesian warpeloponnesian war, 431404 b. Herodotus, by contrast, always seemed a bit of a sucker. His work was the first recorded political and moral analysis of a nations war policies. As a general in the peloponnesian war he failed 424 bc to prevent the surrender of the city of amphipolis to the spartan commander brasidas and was exiled until the end of the war. Thucydides has been dubbed the father of scientific history by those who accept his claims to. A wikipedia article about this author is available thucydides, contrib the english works of thomas hobbes of malmesbury 11 volumes. He began to write when they first took up arms, believing that it would be great and memorable above any previous war. A comparison of herodotus and thucydides the persian and peloponnesian wars were both significant conflicts that tested independence. 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. What is the difference between herodotus and thucydides in. Herodotus history was divided into nine books, named for the nine muses. Mark the statements that describe a difference between the historical writings of herodotus and thucydides.
Thucydides and herodotus in the ancient rhetorical. He detested any reliance on the supernatural, abhorred subjectivity and strived to be as objecti. In writing this book, i have incurred a number of debts. The relationship between thucydides and herodotus, the founding fathers of.
Unlike herodotus, whose stories often teach that a hubris. Both historians differ in their to approaches to recording events in history but they have helped us to get some insight on the reasons of war and historic events. Herodotus, although he has some interest in the facts, is mostly writing to entertain his audiences. Thucydides, an athenian, wrote the history of the war in which the peloponnesians and the athenians fought against one another.
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