Herodotus

Herodotus of Halicarnassus (c. 484–425 BCE) was an ancient Greek historian from Halicarnassus in Caria, a region of the Persian Empire. He is often regarded as the "Father of History" for his systematic approach to gathering information about past events rather than simply retelling myths. His work and method helped shape the early traditions of historical writing in the ancient world.

His principal work, The Histories, is a long prose investigation of the causes and events of the Greco-Persian Wars, written in the Ionic dialect and produced in nine books. The Histories also provides extensive ethnographic, geographic, and cultural material about various peoples known to the Greeks, including Egyptians, Persians, Phoenicians, and Scythians. Herodotus sought to explain why events happened, often drawing on inquiries, travelers’ reports, and local lore. He presents multiple perspectives and cites his sources, though he also recounts marvels and legends.

Herodotus's approach represents an early form of critical historiography, balancing evidence with narrative. While some of his accounts are considered unreliable by modern standards, his emphasis on cause-and-effect and cross-cultural inquiry influenced later Greek historians and the broader Western tradition. The Histories remains a foundational source for understanding ancient history, geography, and the worldview of the classical world.