The Histories

The Histories by Herodotus (c. 430 BC)

"The Father of History" tells the story of the Greco-Persian Wars — Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis — along with astonishing digressions about Egyptian pyramids, Scythian customs, Indian gold-digging ants, and flying snakes.

Historical Significance:
Herodotus of Halicarnassus wrote the first sustained narrative history in Western civilization around 430 BC. His purpose: "so that human achievements may not become forgotten in time, and great and marvelous deeds — some displayed by Greeks, some by barbarians — may not be without their glory." Unlike previous chroniclers who simply listed kings and battles, Herodotus investigated causes, interviewed witnesses, and told stories. He traveled throughout the Mediterranean and Near East gathering material. His account of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae shaped Western civilization's ideal of heroic sacrifice. Cicero called him "the Father of History" — though some have called him "the Father of Lies" for his more fantastical claims.

This public domain classic was originally composed c. 430 BC. Free to read and share.