Description
Book SynopsisThis book examines the Histories of Herodotus within the context of the intellectual climate of the mid- to late fifth century BC. It sees Herodotus' writings as part of the world of scientific enquiry more familiar from the natural philosophers and medical works of the time.
Trade Review"The "Father of History," Herodotus, has developed into a particularly active field of research in the past 25 years and hardly goes by without an important new study. This book by Thomas is one of the best." Choice
"...this leads to a provacative, yet highly compelling, new perspective on the intellectual and cultural dynamics of this seminal era... Thomas has made a valuable contribution to our appreciation of Herodotus and his work, and to our understanding of the fertile, fluid, and contentious intellectual atmosphere in which he lived and to which he contributed." New England Classical Journal
"The 'Father of History,' Herodotus, has developed into a particularly active field of research in the past 25 years and hardly a year goes by without an important new study. This book by Thomas is one of the best." --Choice
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements; References and texts; 1. Introduction; 2. Medicine and the ethnography of health; 3. Dividing the world: Europe, Asia, Greeks and barbarians; 4. Nomos is king: nomos, environment and ethnic character in Herodotus; 5. 'Wonders' and the natural world: natural philosophy and historie; 6. Argument and the language of proof; 7. Polemic and persuasion; 8. Performance, competitive display and apodeixis; 9. Epilogue; Appendix. beavers and female ailments; Bibliography; Indexes.
