The Real, Real Historian
In Webster’s Dictionary, a Historian is defined as, “ a writer or computer of history, or as an authority on or specialist in history (863). Thucydides is regularly referred to as the, “Real Father of History.” The exact date of the birth of Thucydides is unknown, it was sometime before the Peloponnesian war had begun. Thucydides was in an elite group of Athenian Men, including Pericles, the athenian Leader of at the beginning of the Peloponnesian War ( Pounce, 9). Once the war had began with Sparta Thucydides was elected military magistrate, and had became the commander of a fleet, although was summoned back to Athens when he failed at his mission to defend an Athenian post against the Spartans, and was exiled from Athens. (Merriam Webster's Biographical Dictionary) Thucydides writes his history as it is happening in the most unbiased way that he can. Thucydides connects the causes and the effects in his writing of history. Thucydides hoped that his account of history could be used in later times to provide insight for …show more content…
Before Thucydides there was no real history that the people of the Ancient Greece could study, which meant that Thucydides was somewhat making the rules up as he progressed in the his own study. Without having any real history the ancient greeks relied on stories that had been passed down from older generations. Stories such as The Iliad, and The Odyssey were revered as historical in both the eyes of Thucydides, and all ancient people. All of the stories that Thucydides ever would have learned about the Trojan War would have most likely been stories that Homer had started (Pouncey, 9). Since Thucydides had gotten exiled from Athens he would of had more than enough time to gather good, and significant notes for Thucydides to write his
In Webster’s Dictionary, a Historian is defined as, “ a writer or computer of history, or as an authority on or specialist in history (863). Thucydides is regularly referred to as the, “Real Father of History.” The exact date of the birth of Thucydides is unknown, it was sometime before the Peloponnesian war had begun. Thucydides was in an elite group of Athenian Men, including Pericles, the athenian Leader of at the beginning of the Peloponnesian War ( Pounce, 9). Once the war had began with Sparta Thucydides was elected military magistrate, and had became the commander of a fleet, although was summoned back to Athens when he failed at his mission to defend an Athenian post against the Spartans, and was exiled from Athens. (Merriam Webster's Biographical Dictionary) Thucydides writes his history as it is happening in the most unbiased way that he can. Thucydides connects the causes and the effects in his writing of history. Thucydides hoped that his account of history could be used in later times to provide insight for …show more content…
Before Thucydides there was no real history that the people of the Ancient Greece could study, which meant that Thucydides was somewhat making the rules up as he progressed in the his own study. Without having any real history the ancient greeks relied on stories that had been passed down from older generations. Stories such as The Iliad, and The Odyssey were revered as historical in both the eyes of Thucydides, and all ancient people. All of the stories that Thucydides ever would have learned about the Trojan War would have most likely been stories that Homer had started (Pouncey, 9). Since Thucydides had gotten exiled from Athens he would of had more than enough time to gather good, and significant notes for Thucydides to write his