The Battle of Thermopylae from Herodotus
Herodotus and His Significance
As detailed in the provided primary source, Herodotus is related to the invasion of the Greek mainland by the Persian king Xerxes in 480 B.C. Herodotus was, therefore, a Greek historian born in Halicarnassus within the Persian Empire and a contemporary of Socrates. Herodotus was referred to as one of the Fathers of History who was known to have broken the Homeric traditions. As a discipline, it is essential to consider that the significance of Herodotus begins with this figure in establishing the first known systematic investigations over the past conflicts that resulted between the Barbarians and the Greeks. Herodotus engages in the publishing of results in his inquiries…show more content… Herodotus therefore gives inclusive to the roles of gods and the male mannerisms in describing the way responsibilities are dispensed within the society (Herodotus n.p). Herodotus is considered as a prime example of a narrative that passes the important events within the Greece history with the primary aim of spreading the concept of good values that the people of Greece should…show more content… This therefore acted as a catalyst for much of the reasons behind the Athenians beliefs that were at par with the Spartans, hence allowing them to flourish. While most credit the second installment of the Persian wars with the birth of the Athenian renaissance, one could argue that Marathon was the catalyst for, and much of the reason behind, the Athenians’ belief that they were on par with the Spartans — which allowed them to flourish (Ctesias n.p). Had Marathon been a defeat and Athens annihilated, the Western democracy, culture, art and philosophy that developed from this period in history might have been lost, and the Western world today could be very