How to evaluate the historical position of classical historiography in the history of western historiography?

Classical historiography usually refers to ancient Greek and Roman historiography, which is the origin of western historiography. We know that although Rome conquered Greece, Roman culture developed on the basis of Greek culture, and Roman historiography was also influenced by Greek historiography. Therefore, the spiritual core of classical historiography often refers to ancient Greek historiography. Especially Herodotus and Thucydides, two important historians of ancient Greek historiography, created the writing paradigm and historical spirit of western historiography and laid the foundation for later historiography.

Herodotus is known as the "father of history", and his book History marks the birth of ancient Greek historiography and creates a historical paradigm of social and cultural history. The significance of historiography lies in two points: first, he completed the transition of ancient Greek historiography from myth, epic, epic group and prose chronicle to history, that is, the writing content of historiography changed, making it clear from myth and epic.

Secondly, Herodotus used critical methods in history, and the use of critical methods is the key to history. In his writing process, he always adheres to the spirit of seeking truth and strict criticism. He wrote: "My duty is to report everything people say, but I don't necessarily believe it is true. This sentence applies to all my works.

"His critical attitude can also be seen everywhere. For example, when he records a historical event, he will compare different statements and confirm each other, clearly telling readers what is possible, what is impossible, what is controversial and what is temporarily doubtful. As a pioneering work of history, such a spirit of seeking truth and criticizing is the most important legacy left by classical historiography to future generations. Thucydides also inherited Herodotus' realistic and critical spirit and had a stricter sense of evidence. He is also called "the father of historical science".

In the form of writing, in contrast to the historical paradigm of social and cultural history initiated by Herodotus' History, Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War initiated the historical paradigm of military and political history, which opened the tradition of classical historiography, and these two types kept reappearing in the historical writing of later generations.

In a word, as the source of western historiography, classical historiography is not only the first step of historical writing, but also the historical spirit it contains. The historical paradigm it laid is not limited by the times, and has a far-reaching impact on future generations, which is a precious spiritual wealth of mankind.

Finally, there is a passage that Herodotus talked about his purpose of studying history in At the Beginning of History: "What is published here is the research results of Harry Canasus as Herodotus, and the reason why he wants to publish these research results is to preserve the great achievements made by mankind so that they will not be lost because of age; It is to ensure that the epic achievements of Greeks and foreigners will not lose their due glory, especially to record the reasons for the war between them so as to last forever. " I think this is the spirit of historiography.