Greek Historiography

In this comprehensive new volume, Thomas Scanlon provides an accessible and up–to–date survey of the ancient Greek genre of historical writing from its origins before Herodotus to the Greek historians of the Roman imperial era, seven centuries later. Situating historical writing among the forms of epic and lyric poetry, drama, philosophy, and science for which the Greeks are already so well known, Greek Historiography examines individual historian s perspectives on power and human nature as a means of tracing the early evolution of ancient Greek history. From Thucydides to Polybius, the volume considers pervading questions of causation, divine justice, leadership, civilization versus barbarism, legacy, and literary reception. Alongside sophisticated close reading, Scanlon provides thorough summaries that signpost key passages and highlight thematic links to help readers navigate their way through the original texts.

Citing the most up–to–date translations and featuring a comprehensive list of further reading that includes important new scholarship, Greek Historiography will prove to be an essential tool for anyone interested in better understanding the evolution of Greek historical writing.

Preface

1. Origins and Early Forms

2. Herodotus on the Limits of Happiness: Beyond Epic, Lyric, and Logography

3. Thucydides on the Ends of Power

4. Xenophon on Leadership and Moral Authority

5. History and Rhetoric in Fourth Century Historians

6. Diversity and Innovation in the Hellenistic Era

7. Polybius on the Supremacy of a Balanced State

8. Greek Historians in the Roman Era

9. Concluding Observations on Greek Historical Writing

Further Reading

Thomas F. Scanlon is Professor of Classics and Chair of the Department of Comparative Literature and Foreign Languages at the University of California, Riverside. He has published several books on Greek and Roman history, including most recently Sport in the Greek and Roman Worlds (2014) and Eros and Greek Athletics (2002).