Question

Pliny the Younger is another important historian who described the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Which statement is true about Herodotus?

A) Herodotus lived in the fifth century B.C., and wrote the history of Athens.
B) Herodotus was a Greek historian and explained how the Parthenon was built.
C) Herodotus lived in Athens, Greece, and is credited as the first historian.
D) Herodotus was an ancient historian and wrote mostly about Greek wars.

Answer 1

Herodotus, often called the father of history, was a fifth century BCE historian who authored the 'Histories', focusing on the Greco-Persian Wars and setting a foundation for historical methodology.

Step-by-step explanation:

Herodotus, known as the father of history, lived during the fifth century BCE and authored Histories, an extensive narrative of the Greco-Persian Wars. Herodotus's commitment to collecting information through travel and his use of primary sources revolutionized the writing of history. Through his meticulous work, he created a precedent for future historians to not only chronicle events but also to explore the deeper causes and effects underlying those events.

Herodotus is recognized for his wide geographical scope in history-writing and he dealt with the tensions between the Persian and Greek worlds. He is remembered not only for the historical content but also for his reflections on cultural differences and their relative values, offering insights that were at once contemplative and empirical. As such, Herodotus's work established the basis for historical inquiry and method that would be employed by later historians.