The title of the ‘Father of Historiography’ is commonly attributed to Herodotus, an ancient Greek historian who lived in the 5th century BCE. Herodotus is best known for his work ‘Histories’, which is considered one of the earliest examples of historical writing in Western literature.
Herodotus earned this title not merely for his role in recording events, but also for his approach to investigating and narrating history. In ‘Histories’, he combined diverse stories, including anecdotes about different cultures, geographic descriptions, and detailed accounts of battles and political events. His methodology emphasized the importance of inquiry and critical examination of sources, making him a pioneer in the study of history.
While his works are sometimes criticized for including fanciful tales and lacking rigorous evidence by modern standards, his efforts laid the groundwork for future historians. Herodotus’s curiosity about the world and the events that shaped his time inspired subsequent generations to study the past more systematically, establishing a foundation for historiography as a discipline.