Heroes and History 1

In Homer, Herodotus, and Thucydides, we look at the role of myth in defining national character and the emergence of historical thinking as a critical examination of past and contemporary events. The Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War and the tragic consequences of conflict run rampant. The Odyssey follows the travails of one man as he tries to return from war to resume his life, establishing a narrative structure seen time and again throughout history. With Herodotus, we see the birth of history, as he endeavors to report what happens as he understands it, rather than what has come from divine inspiration or revelation. Thucydides explores in great detail the events of his day and the destruction wrought by unchecked ambition and flawed political strategy. Together, these works have value not just in themselves, but as the foundation upon which subsequent works would be built.