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Recommended Reading: 600 Classics Reviewed

The Histories

by Herodotus of Halicarnassus

425

Nonfiction

History

This research presents a history in nine books by the world's first historian.

The telling of secular history, based on sources, came into being in the second half of the fifth century BC with this inquiry. Although some sources of Herodotus (525–484 BC) were not completely reliable, this learned traveler sought out the best available information of his day. He provides analysis of events, military strategy, geographical maps, religious background, ethnographical commentary, and his considered opinion.

Herodotus begins with demythologizing: he argues military conflicts were not the result of legendary rapes, but of pillage, empire, and various ambitions. The idea of Europe is a Persian concept to explain why Greeks are unlike other peoples.

Book One covers the conquests of Croesus of Lydia in Asia Minor and his defeat by Cyrus the Great. He describes the great wealth and customs of Babylon. In Book Two Cambyses succeeds Cyrus, yet most of the book describes the history and customs of Egypt from 3000–526 BC. Book Three treats the conquest of Egypt by Cambyses, the failed Spartan siege of Samos, the revolt of Magus, the death of Cambyses, the reign of Darius, and the Persian conquest of Samos.

Book Four investigates the conquest of Scythia and Libya by Darius. In Book Five Darius crosses the Hellespont, conquering Thrace. Athens subdues Thebes and Chalcis. Darius defeats the Ionians, Hellespont cities, Cyprus, and Greek cities in Asia Minor. In Book Six Darius imposes tribute. Athens and Sparta unite and defeat the Persians at Marathon (490 BC).

Book Seven begins with Darius raising another army, the revolt of Egypt against Darius, and the death of Darius. Xerxes prepares to invade Greece, but loses many ships to a storm near Thermopylae. The Thebans surrender. The Spartan 300 perish in glory.

Book Eight describes the indecisive naval battle at Artemisia. The Greeks abandon Attica. Themistocles persuades the Greeks to fight at Salamis where they defeat the Persians, and divide the spoils. The Persian fleet gathers at Samos.

Book Nine describes the Spartan march north, the Persian burning of Athens, the complexities of Greek intrigue, and the battle of Plataea where the Persians are defeated. The Greek fleet attacks the Persians at Samos, winning a great victory; Greeks sail to the Hellespont, reopening trade routes to the Black Sea.

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
Halicarnassus, Herodotus of. "The Histories." Recommended Reading: 600 Classics Reviewed, edited by Editors of Salem Press, Salem Press, 2015. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=6CR_0240.
APA 7th
Halicarnassus, H. o. (2015). The Histories. In E. Salem Press (Ed.), Recommended Reading: 600 Classics Reviewed. Salem Press. online.salempress.com.
CMOS 17th
Halicarnassus, Herodotus of. "The Histories." Edited by Editors of Salem Press. Recommended Reading: 600 Classics Reviewed. Hackensack: Salem Press, 2015. Accessed September 15, 2025. online.salempress.com.