This volume provides an accessible, comprehensive, and up-to-date survey of the ancient Greek genre of historical writing from its origins before Herodotus to the Greek historians of the Roman imperial era, seven centuries later.

• Focuses on the themes of power and human nature, causation, divine justice, leadership, civilization versus barbarism, legacy, and literary reception
• Includes thorough summaries alongside textual analysis that signpost key passages and highlight thematic connections, helping readers navigate their way through the original texts
• Situates historical writing among the forms of epic and lyric poetry, drama, philosophy, and science
• Uses the best current translations and includes a detailed list of further reading that includes important new scholarship

Thomas F. Scanlon is Professor of Classics and Chair of the Department of Comparative Literature and Foreign Languages at the University of California, Riverside. He has published several books on Greek and Roman history, including most recently Sport in the Greek and Roman Worlds (2014) and Eros and Greek Athletics (2002).