A Critical Analysis of the Role of Herodotus's Histories in Representing the Conflicts between the Persian Empire and the Greek States

Abstract

Herodotus' Histories is the first truly historical work in Western literature. It describes how and why wars took place from 680 BC to 479 BC. As a historical record, Herodotus used documentary techniques to record the human geography, national customs and political ideas of the society at that time. This information served as the background and causes of the Greek-Persian War so that later generations could better understand the history of that period. This paper takes the first volume as an example to interpret Herodotus' description of the Lydian Empire, the Persian Empire and the core figures of the empire as well as the theological thoughts mixed in the explanation of the war, and to enrich the reasons for the occurrence and results of the war through the description of the national political system and other background information. Therefore, Herodotus' Histories not only records the war but also shows the influence brought by the war, such as the exchange and development of culture. By recording and describing the Greek-Persian War, Herodotus revealed the history of the ancient Greek period and expressed his sense of responsibility and mission as a historian.