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Herodotus

Herodotus

Herodotus’s purpose in writing was to preserve the traces of human events from being erased by time. He wanted to record the great accomplishments of the Greeks and the Barbarians. Herodotus wanted to answer a number of questions such as, how did the war between the Greeks and Barbarians happen?   And, what were the causes and explanations for it?
In searching for these answers, he gathered a great deal of first hand information. He compiled his works systematically, testing their accuracy and arranged them in a dramatic narrative.
Herodotus’ story begins in the town of Halicarnassus where he lived until his family was exiled. Upon their banishment, he began to gather information to answer his questions. He traveled widely around the world of the east Mediterranean to gather information. After some time he compared answers and took into account the details to produce an accurate portrayal of the events that took place.
The subject matter discussed in sections 1-5 is the Phoenician quarrel that began. During long voyages, the Phoenicians landed on many places where they traded with the natives.   According to the Persian story, at one of these stops, the Phoenicians put women, including the King’s daughter Io and other high status women from Persia and Greece, on board their vessel and set sail for Egypt.   This story differs from the Phoenician story. According to the Phoenicians, Io formed an intimacy with the captain of the ship, and perceiving herself pregnant, accompanied the Phoenicians of her own free will.
Herodotus states both sides of the story and does not judge which side is true. Rather, he continues with the historical account of numerous battles that ensued.    
The Greeks raised an army and invaded Asia to destroy Priam because women from Lacedaemon were abducted. This event marked the beginning of the adversarial relationship between the Greeks and Persians.
Herodotus tells the stories from all perspectives and attempts not to...