Ancient Historians

[Liu Shan]

I didn't mean to sound like I was judging Herodotus harshly, just saying that you have to take in account that he was known as the Father of Lies.

His works would be preferable than other historians, as in many Ancient Greek history books he would be largely referenced to. Though I think Plutarch is alright, I kept getting Plato and Plutarch mixed up; stupid era : D... Plato's theories, are complex and confusing.

I think Aristotle should stay out of literature, creating the genre of tragedy (hamartia, peripeteia, agnorisis..etc.).. That realm is for Aristophanes, whose plays and drama were quite good.

[Mikey]

Homer is better,

Shut up.

xD

[Eshmunbaal]

Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if you merely offend them they take vengeance, but if you injure them greatly they are unable to retaliate, so that the injury done to a man ought to be such that vengeance cannot be feared.

Now that's literature. Nothing like them historians. I vote for the man who wrote this quote...

[Shi Man]

You forgot Josephus Flaccidus Flavius.

Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if you merely offend them they take vengeance, but if you injure them greatly they are unable to retaliate, so that the injury done to a man ought to be such that vengeance cannot be feared.

That sounds like Macchiavelli's The Prince. Did I get that right? He's actually not really related to the men on the poll at all, but he wrote a damn good book in its own right, albeit from a very different time.

[Mortiss V3]

I havent read Josephus

From what I know its just about the Jews innit?

[Eshmunbaal]

Aug 15, 2008 4:30:27 GMT -5 Shi Man said:

You forgot Josephus Flaccidus Flavius.

Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if you merely offend them they take vengeance, but if you injure them greatly they are unable to retaliate, so that the injury done to a man ought to be such that vengeance cannot be feared.

That sounds like Macchiavelli's The Prince. Did I get that right? He's actually not really related to the men on the poll at all, but he wrote a damn good book in its own right, albeit from a very different time.

Indeed, Machiavelli. He wasn't a historian, but he wrote some really good stuff.

[Shi Man]

Aug 15, 2008 12:03:15 GMT -5 Mortiss V3 said:

I havent read Josephus

From what I know its just about the Jews innit?

For the most part yes, but in this case, it really relates to the Romans because that was who the Jews were fighting. Flavius himself was a Jew who pseudo-defected to the Roman side.

He's worthy of consideration among the great ancient historians, I think. There's also some controversy about Jesus related to Josephus, I think.

If we can expand this conversation into discussion about non-Western historians as well, I'd also nominate Sima Qian. I have the Burton Watson translations of part of his vast, VAST historical annals, and I must say that it is one of the best reads of ancient Chinese history ever.

Indeed, Machiavelli. He wasn't a historian, but he wrote some really good stuff.

I know. I read The Prince. For the record, he does make a lot of [somewhat obscure] historical references about Italian history, though.

[Qin Shi Huangdi]

How come Sima Qian is not on the list?

[Mortiss V3]

Cus blood da Chinkies aint good christians...