Herodotus, Thucydides, and Livy

Herodotus is also referred to as the "father of history."  He was the first historian to actually talk to people and write history based on his observations.  When Herodotus was a boy, he learned everything he knew from Homer.  During the time of his Herodotus's childhood, the Persians fought the Greeks, and this war inspired him to focus his writing on the Persian War.

Thucydides was a general in the Athenian army, and he was a leader in the Peloponnesian War.  He was exiled from the Athenian army after he lost a battle.  Unlike Herodotus, Thucydides was a scholar, he wanted to study everything that happened in the past, and write about it.  During his time as a scholar, he did most of his studying on the Peloponnesian War.

Livy was a Roman historian, other than Herodotus and Thucydides.  He wrote his books during the time of the first Roman emperor, Augustus.  Livy wrote history from the beginning of Rome, Romulus and Remus, to his own time period.  The history that was written by Livy was written in the format of many volumes.  Book 21 of Livy's history of Rome is where we get the story of Hannibal and the second Punic war.

Carr, Dr. Karen. "Herodotus." Kidipede. 15 Jan 2009. Portland State University, Web. 3 Mar 2010. <http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/literature/herodotus.htm>.

Carr, Dr. Karen. "Livy." Kidipede. 15 Jan 2009. Portland State University, Web. 3 Mar 2010. <http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/literature/livy.htm>.

Carr, Dr. Karen. "Thucydides." Kidipede. 15 Jan 2009. Portland State University, Web. 3 Mar 2010. <http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/literature/thucydides.htm>.

"Hérodote." Wikimedia Commons. Web. 3 Mar 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AGMA_H%C3%A9rodote.jpg>.


"Thucydides." Wikimedia Commons. Web. 3 Mar 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Thucydides-bust-cutout_ROM.jpg>.


"Titus Livius." Wikimedia Commons. Web. 3 Mar 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Titus_Livius.jpg>.