Herodotus in context : ethnography, science, and the art of persuasion

by: Thomas, R.

Price: 81,50 EURO

1 copy in stock

This book examines the Histories of Herodotus within the context of the intellectual climate of the mid to late fifth century BC. Herodotus is read widely for his accounts of archaic Greek history but his descriptions of Egypt, Scythia and Libya are equally fascinating. Rosalind Thomas concentrates on the latter, along with Herodotus' accounts of the wonders of nature and his methods of convincing his audiences, seeing these as part of the world of scientific inquiry and controversy more familiar from the natural philosophers and medical works of the time.

Concentrates on the ethnography and geography rather than the historical narrative alone
Undertakes an extensive comparison with the contemporary and near-contemporary thinkers who wrote about natural philosophy and the nature of man
Sees Herodotus as a writer who does 'fit' into the exciting developments of the world of the late fifth century BC in his own way

able of Contents
Acknowledgements
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.

Herodotus in context : ethnography, science, and the art of persuasion

by: Thomas, R.

• ISBN-13: 9780521662598 / 978-0-521-66259-8
• ISBN-03: 0521662591 / 0-521-66259-1
• Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2000

Price: 81,50 EURO

1 copy in stock