Early Greek Writers of History
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The Greeks invented history as it would develop in Western thought, and different early historians approached the issue of history in different ways. The approach taken often depended on whether they were eyewitnesses or reporting what others told them, on their skill as writers, and on whether they offer judgments about the history they recount or only tell the stories as they know them. Thucydides wrote about the Peloponnesian War and its consequences in a way that would speak to future generations, and he did so from the point of view of an eyewitness and participant. Tacitus examined history in terms of individuals and groups, offering as much cultural as historical analysis, and reporting on people he knew, letting them tell their own stories through him. The Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta was an event that had major consequences for the development of the ancient world, with the details of this war reported to the ages by the historian Thucydides. His approach to history would influence later writers and continue to stand as one of the most important histories of the Greek world. He helped develop the idea of what history means through the method he used, which included a philosophical element that tried to explain events and relate them to a larger consciousness of the world and of human aspirations. Thucydides discusses his historical method and related issues in the early section, known as the "Archaeology" section. He shows a journalistic t
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and test one against the other to ascertain the truth. Such evidence often cannot be tested. There are also biases that creep into such accounts, as Thucydides notes when stating that people always see the war they are fighting as the greatest one ever (Thucydides 12).
Thucydides writes his history in chronological order, and he does so in a manner more like the method of a reporter than a historian. He keeps a journal of everything he sees and hears, but he also offers informed analysis of events. He is conscious of the need to tell the story in a logical manner and states, "The history follows the chronological order of events by summers and winters" (Thucydides 87). The early portion where he recounts the ancient history of Greece differs in that he did not see these events personally and is instead retelling the accepted historical facts. Thucydides also offers considerable detail, analyzing not only events on the battlefield but the political arguments taking place elsewhere. In so doing, Thucydides is always fair and presents the arguments offered by both side,s though he fought on the side of Athens himself. He keeps value judgments to a minimum.
Tacitus states in "The Agricola" that he is celebrating the life
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Approximate Word count = 1223
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)
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