Written in the fifth century BC, the Histories is considered to be the founding work of history in the Western canon. The narrative centers on the wars between the Greeks and the Persians, but Herodotus ranges far and wide to describe the peoples, customs, geography, and legends of the ancient world.Herodotus earned the title "Father of History" from Cicero, though he has also been called the "Father of Lies" by critics who question the reliability of his accounts. Whatever the truth of his tales, the Histories offers an invaluable window into the ancient world and the Greek conception of it.Perfect for readers interested in ancient history, classical literature, and the origins of Western civilization, the Histories remains essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how the ancient Greeks saw their world.
