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To read The History (Herodotus' only book) is to seek one's roots as a member of Western democratic civilization. It is in part a gripping and much revered tale of colossal confrontation between freedom-loving Greek-speaking peoples (the Athenians, Spartans, and others) and the seemingly unstoppable forces of the Persians. The Asiatic "Great King" Xerxes, who followed in the footsteps of Cyrus and Darius and assembled a military force numbered in the millions, was intent on enslaving the Greeks as he had so many other countries in the region- Egypt, Asia Minor, Syria, Babylonia, etc. The heroic battles near Athens- at Marathon (490 BCE), Thermopylae, Salamis, and finally Plataea (479 BCE) were classical Greek's crowning military achievements, and Herodotus was determined to record these great deeds for future generations (particularly in view of the ignominious and disastrous Peloponnesian Wars that followed). Yet his writing is remarkably even-handed, providing many examples of good and evil acts on both sides. He is a great humanist who sees and respects the universal in the experience and actions of humankind underlying the idiosyncracies of regional customs and religious beliefs. This was apparently the first recorded work to which the name "history" was applied- in fact the English word "history" derives from the similar Greek word meaning "research" or "inquiry" because of this work. Herodotus tries in 700 pages to sum up all that a well-informed Greek such as himself could learn about the real world, at least its geography, nations, cultures, flora and fauna, and mythical origins. He often speaks from firsthand experience gleaned from his extensive travels, and supplements where necessary with secondary sources, always carefully distinguishing the two. Many of his "facts" are fantastical or bizarre (and can be enjoyed as fables or tall tales). Yet much of what he describes has apparently stood the test of time, particularly when it is recognized that Herodotus places great emphasis on the importance of myth as a shaper of civilizations, regardless of its objective "truth". His descriptions of ancient and extraordinarily diverse cultures are remarkably detailed and just plain fun to read, and in many instances, are the only source of written knowledge left for future generations. This is a lengthy work, and some of the sections describing various peripheral cultures perhaps might be skimmed, yet the substantial time required to read it carefully will be amply rewarded. He sees a great interconnectedness in the events of history and begins in mythical times in order to explain the roots of his own civilization and what led up to the Persian Wars. There are many fine and sobering morality tales to be enjoyed, such as that of Croesus, King of Lydia, who was advised by the oracle: "if he made war on the Persians he would destroy a mighty empire." Rivaling any best-selling potboiler of today, there are numerous depictions of savage and barbaric acts, of arrogance and hubris winning out over caution, of rage, envy, lust, greed, corruption, insanity, and other human failings that make up the fabric of history. Who can forget the despot Xerxes- ordering the waters of the Hellespont to be whipped and harnessed with a yoke of fetters (after a storm wrecks his vital bridge), or commanding that Pythias' son be sliced in half and left behind (after Pythias asks for the son's release from the army to care for him in his old age.) But there are also tales of love, passion, suffering, spirited debate, innovation and invention, heroism, devotion to duty, determination, and self-sacrifice- tales which can inspire and guide us even after these many centuries. Women do not play much of a

role in this book written some 2420 years ago [c. 425 BCE]. There are a few great Queens, priestesses, and heroines, and some villainesses and seductresses, but for the most part this is a story about the deeds of men, and women tend to be depicted more as property and accessories than as principals. He is writing from the male perspective at a time when humankind was viewed as subject to the unknowable mysteries of Divine purpose and fate, and life was pretty grim even for the men. Take the time to study the maps in the back of Grene's translation as you read this book, in order to make sense of the sometimes arcane geographical details that are so important to the full understanding of The History. I hope you enjoy this great work as much as I have. Major Themes (1) Relatedness and unity of historical events over many generations (2) Variety and universality of human experience and existence (3) Incomprehensible destiny and interrelationships among diverse things (4) Respect for others beliefs and in the sacred (5) Desire to preserve the great events of heroism (6) Disunity of the Greeks (7) Triumph of free peoples over slaves (8) Folly of empire building, hubris, and ignoring cautionary warnings...