The Histories (Translated by George Rawlinson with an Introduction by George Swayne and a Preface by H. L. Havell) - Herodotus

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Résumé :
Widely referred to as the Father of History, Greek Historian Herodotus lived during the 5th century BC and The Histories is generally accepted as the first work of historical literature in Western Civilization. Departing from the ancient Homeric tradition of treating historical subjects as epically romantic figures, Herodotus instead approached his subjects with a systematic method of investigation. The Histories of Herodotus describe the important wars of the fifth century BC. This work conveys the careful research and deliberate documentation of martial battles between the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire. The reasons for his efforts, as explained by Herodotus, were to preserve the memory and glory of human achievements and deeds, as well as to record why the Greco-Persian Wars took place. Organized in nine books, which are named after the Muses, he unfolds the various battles while making a comparison of the widely differing governments of the antagonists. In undertaking his Histories, Herodotus unfolds a holistic view of the classical world with considerable narrative skill and charisma. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper, follows the translation of George Rawlinson, includes an introduction by George Swayne, and a preface by H. L. Havell.

Biographie:
Herodotus (c.?484 - c.?425 BC) was an ancient Greek historian who was born in Halicarnassus in the Persian Empire (modern-day Bodrum, Turkey). He is known for having written the book The Histories, a detailed record of his inquiry on the origins of the Greco-Persian Wars. He is widely considered to have been the first writer to have treated historical subjects using a method of systematic investigation-specifically, by collecting his materials and then critically arranging them into an historiographic narrative. On account of this, he is often referred to as The Father of History, a title first conferred on him by the first-century BC Roman orator Cicero. Despite Herodotus's historical significance, little is known about his personal life. His Histories primarily deals with the lives of Croesus, Cyrus, Cambyses, Smerdis, Darius, and Xerxes and the battles of Marathon, Thermopylae, Artemisium, Salamis, Plataea, and Mycale; however, his many cultural, ethnographical, geographical, historiographical, and other digressions form a defining and essential part of The Histories and contain a wealth of information. Herodotus has been criticized for the fact that his book includes many obvious legends and fanciful accounts. Many authors, starting with the late fifth-century BC historian Thucydides, have accused him of making up stories for entertainment. However, Herodotus states that he is merely reporting what he has seen and heard. A sizable portion of the information he provides has since been confirmed by historians and archaeologists.

Sommaire:
Widely referred to as the Father of History, Greek Historian Herodotus lived during the 5th century BC and The Histories is generally accepted as the first work of historical literature in Western Civilization. Departing from the ancient Homeric tradition of treating historical subjects as epically romantic figures, Herodotus instead approached his subjects with a systematic method of investigation. The Histories of Herodotus describe the important wars of the fifth century BC. This work conveys the careful research and deliberate documentation of martial battles between the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire. The reasons for his efforts, as explained by Herodotus, were to preserve the memory and glory of human achievements and deeds, as well as to record why the Greco-Persian Wars took place. Organized in nine books, which are named after the Muses, he unfolds the various battles while making a comparison of the widely differing governments of the antagonists. In undertaking his Histories, Herodotus unfolds a holistic view of the classical world with considerable narrative skill and charisma. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper, follows the translation of George Rawlinson, includes an introduction by George Swayne, and a preface by H. L. Havell....