the "Histories" Herodotus?

Question

I was wondering if anyone read the book "the histories" by Herodotus and if they know how my essay question reflects the book.

here is my essay question:

To what degree are the historical figures in Herodotus responsible for their fate?

Answer 1

Here are two quotes from sources on the Histories of Herodotus:


The History may be the first known creative work to be written in prose. Both ancient and modern critics have paid tribute to its grandeur of design and to its frank, lucid, and delightfully anecdotal style. Herodotus demonstrates a wide knowledge of Greek literature and contemporary rational thought. The universe, he believed, is ruled by Fate and Chance, and nothing is stable in human affairs. Moral choice is still important, however, since the gods punish the arrogant. This attempt to draw moral lessons from the study of great events formed the basis of the Greek and Roman historiographical tradition, of which Herodotus is rightly regarded as the founder.


There is abundant evidence, too, that Herodotus had a philosophy of history. The unity which marks his work is due not only to the strong Greek national feeling running through it, the feeling that rises to a height in such passages as the descriptions of the battles of Marathon, Thermopylæ, and Salamis, but also to his profound belief in Fate and in Nemesis. To his belief in Fate is due the frequent quoting of oracles and their fulfilment, the frequent references to things foreordained by Providence. The working of Nemesis he finds in the disasters that befall men and nations whose towering prosperity awakens the jealousy of the gods. The final overthrow of the Persians, which forms his main theme, is only one specially conspicuous example of the operation of this force from which human life can never free itself.

Answer 2

Josh O analysed the moral financial disaster of the area all acceptable. all the different solutions listed right here are utilising one among 2 understandings of what 'faith in humanity' potential. each person subscribing to neo-liberal economics and claiming that it really is sweet for all, is stark raving mad. interior the marketplace consensus it really is sparkling that in basic terms about each governing get collectively or coalition has thrown of their lot with that. Morally conversing, conservatives sense they have a monopoly on 'moral criteria' which extra or less translates as: a minimum of a gentle conception in a god, note of of all authority, moral custom. although, because conservatism suitable entirely threw in its lot with neo-liberal economics and neo-conservative politics, (i.e. coverage used as a device to forcibly create marketplace oportunities that could be monopolized) it really is not an uncomplicated ethic of persons made good via complication-free toil, if it ever became. Even the time of the entire conservative Edmund Burke had this imperialist body of innovations in embryo. If we are speaking about tips to the wretched and deprived, it has continuously been the socially liberal and extra often those suspicious of capitalism who've sought fuller measures to relieve poverty etc. attending to the basis quite than throwing down some voluntary charitable donations. both have a element of failure, nonetheless conservative procedures seem chuffed to allow human beings wade through depending on the conception that it ought to by some potential be their personal fault commonly. while the different frame of mind takes a precautionary degree and assumes that perchance it imight not be the fault of one hundred+ million unemployed and that the reason may lie elsewhere than personal sloth. the famous version of the 'left' has settled right into a social democrat trend of tax redistribution as a 2d staggering to taming wild capitalism. opposite to the commonly commonplace concept, it really is conservatism (old and new) it quite is idealistic, both its moral perspectives and its monetary frame of mind are conceived in an suitable vacuum and ignore with regard to the variables of authentic societies.

Answer 3

There is the story of Solon, the lawgiver of Athens, who visited King Croesus of Lydia. Croesus showed Solon treasure houses and other great things and kept asking Solon, "Now who is the happiest person you ever met?" Solon kept naming and telling stories of other obscure persons who were dead. Finally, Croesus asked Solon, "What about me?" Solon replied, "Ask not of a man's happiness until you know how he died." Later in Herodotus, Croesus attacked Cyrus, King of Persia, and was utterly defeated. Croesus and Cyrus had a conversation after in which Croesus related to Cyrus the remark of Solon.