1answer.
Ask question
Login Signup
Ask question
All categories
  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Social Studies
  • Business
  • History
  • Health
  • Geography
  • Biology
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Computers and Technology
  • Arts
  • World Languages
  • Spanish
  • French
  • German
  • Advanced Placement (AP)
  • SAT
  • Medicine
  • Law
  • Engineering
kicyunya [14]
3 years ago
7

What was the purpose of herodotus'history?

History
1 answer:
Debora [2.8K]3 years ago
3 0
Herodotus is famously known by the dual moniker, “Father of History, Father of Lies”. Whether or not he deserves the latter epithet is perhaps up for debate. He is sometimes criticized as unserious for his many cultural digressions and travelog sidebars. It would, however, take a truly obtuse and narrow-minded critic to deny him the former title. History as a thing separate from record-keeping and chronicling begins with Herodotus. In and among his entertaining and diverting rabbit trails is some of the best and most important history ever written. He shows those who would do history after him what they were to strive for. It is in the opening lines of the Histories where Herodotus establishes the scope and purpose of history, and in doing so establishes its role in man’s attempt to understand his world.

The lines which begin the Histories are a model of clarity and simplicity. There is no excess rhetoric, no flowery overstatement. Herodotus states succinctly in the above passage the purpose for his account. His “enquiries” (ἱστορία) were made to serve memory and understanding—memory in preserving the deeds of men, understanding in examining how the circumstances of those actions came about.

Herodotus’ treatment of memory in this passage is more than just a simple remembrance. He is doing more than just recording a how, where, and when. The preservation of memory here is active, even aggressive, as if time were attempting to destroy the things of man, and history is a brandished weapon holding it at bay.

Almost as an afterthought, Herodotus appends onto his paean to memory a secondary goal. Among the matters covered will be “…the cause of the conflict between the Greeks and non-Greeks.” This is just casually thrown in as if to remind you to look for it along the way. Here Herodotus is understating his purpose, and by playing down this item, he shows its importance. The discovery of the causes of action, and why men have acted as they have, is the heart of the study of history.

So what is the cause of the conflict between the Greeks and the non-Greeks? What was the spark that began the fire that led the largest army in antiquity to cross from Asia to Europe in order to subdue the cities of Attica and the Peloponnese? Herodotus’ examination of this is more subtle than some will give him credit for, and is composed of one part scholarly guile, and one part showmanship. He will look at the opinions of the Asians and the Greeks, and then settle on the pattern that will lead him through his entire enquiry.

“According to learned Persians, it was the Phoenicians who caused the conflict....”1 So begins Herodotus’ examination of the causes of the great conflict. Right away, he is already showing historians their business - he is sourcing his work. He is telling you whose opinion he is working with. As he proceeds, he relates the Persians’ story of Phoenicians going to Argos and abducting Io. In a turnabout, some Greeks go to Tyre and abduct Europa, while some others go to Colchis and abduct Princess Medea (there is some confusion amongst the Persians as to whether the former group were properly Greek, or Cretan). All of the second round of abductors justify their actions by pointing to Io’s earlier capture.

Finally, the son of the Trojan king, Alexander (Paris), abducts Helen from her home in Sparta. At this point, according to the Persians, the Greeks gain culpability, for “…so far it had only been a matter of abducting women from one another, but the Greeks…took the initiative and launched a military strike against Persia.”2

While it is true that the Persians viewed this kind of rapacious activity to be illegal, they found the Greek reaction to Helen’s abduction odd because, “…it is stupid to get worked up about it....“ They viewed the Greek reaction to be unjust and “…date the origin of their hostility towards the Greece from the fall of Illium.” 3

After sourcing these opinions, and running through them, Herodotus gives his own opinion: forget the abductions; they are not the issue.


You might be interested in
What two causes contributed to the dust bowl
agasfer [191]

Answer:

Economic depression and extended drought contributed to the dust bowl.

Explanation:

6 0
3 years ago
Read 2 more answers
What does this photo suggest about American Revolution soldiers and their uniforms? Practice Write your response in one to two c
Juli2301 [7.4K]

Answer:

The British soldiers were often called the "Red Coats" because of their bright red coats. Although they are most famous for their red uniforms, they sometimes wore blue uniforms during the Revolutionary War.

Explanation:

This is true i learned it in history it is proven in this picture too.

4 0
3 years ago
Why did the Confederates create the submarine?
EastWind [94]

Answer:

The South's sub actually scored the first kill by a submarine in history. However, the submarine did not survive.

Explanation:

8 0
3 years ago
How can a movie be both a primary and secondary source?
Paul [167]
If the movie is perhaps a documentary, then it is telling you factual information of actual events (includes pictures or pictures of actual documents or events); this makes it a primary source.
If the movie is based off of real events, has factual information, but also has added information to create a well-rounded plot, this makes it a secondary source.
8 0
3 years ago
What made colonists unhappy leading up to the American Revolution? Check all that apply.
ehidna [41]

Answer:

A and D

Explanation:

The British Colonys were taxed without representation and taxes were raised to pay for the war that Britain won.

5 0
3 years ago
Read 2 more answers
Other questions:
  • A historical source can be deemed unreliable if the author appears to unfairly favor a particular side or viewpoint. In this cas
    13·2 answers
  • What type of legislature does the US have?*
    10·1 answer
  • How did labor and land ownership change after the civil war?
    13·1 answer
  • In 2002, the u.s. government responded to the rash of notorious corporate scandals by enacting which act
    8·1 answer
  • • 19th Century Reform Movements Question: Of the Utopian communities which wanted to separate themselves from the new world of i
    9·1 answer
  • Who was one of the original inhabitants of the caribbean islands? arawaks mestizos aztecs toltecs
    12·1 answer
  • In the Sandcreek Massace, the Cheyenne had shown up with the purpose of killing everyone they saw.
    14·1 answer
  • What year was America discovered
    8·2 answers
  • Why was adding amendments to the constitution mad a difficult task
    9·1 answer
  • Geography is the study of
    7·1 answer
Add answer
Login
Not registered? Fast signup
Signup
Login Signup
Ask question!