The Greeks were great thinkers and are credited with developing philosophy, creating drama, and inventing certain literary genres. One such genre was history. History emerged from other styles of non-fiction writing, particularly travel writing, based on the voyages of curious and observant men. There were also ancient biographers and chroniclers who produced similar material and data used by historians. Here are some of the major ancient writers of ancient history or the closely related genres.
11. Nepos
Cornelius Nepos, who probably lived from around 100 to 24 B.C., is our first surviving biographer. A contemporary of Cicero, Catullus, and Augustus, Nepos wrote love poems, a Chronica, Exempla, a Life of Cato, a Life of Cicero, a treatise on geography, at least 16 books of De viris illustribus, and De excellentibus ducibus exterarum gentium. The last survives and fragments of others remain.Nepos, who is thought to have come from Cisalpine Gaul to Rome, wrote in an easy style of Latin.
Source: Early Church Fathers, where you'll also find the manuscript tradition and an English translation.
12. Nicolaus of Damascus
Nicolaus was a Syrian historian from Damascus, Syria, who was born around 64 B.C. and was acquainted with Octavian, Herod the Great, and Josephus. He wrote the first Greek autobiography, tutored Cleopatra's children, was Herod's court historian and ambassador to Octavian and he wrote Octavian's biography.Source: "Review, by Horst R. Moehring of Nicolaus of Damascus, by Ben Zion Wacholder." Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 85, No. 1 (Mar., 1966), p. 126 .
13. Orosius
Orosius, a contemporary of St. Augustine, wrote a history called Seven Books of History Against the Pagans. Augustine had asked him to write it as a companion to City of God to show that Rome wasn't worse off since the advent of Christianity. Orosius' history goes back to the beginning of man, which was a much more ambitious project than had been asked of him.14. Pausanias
Pausanias was a Greek geographer of the 2nd century A.D. His 10-book Description of Greece covers Athens/Attica, Corinth, Laconia, Messenia, Elis, Achaia, Arcadia, Boetia, Phocis, and Ozolian Locris. He describes the physical space, art, and architecture as well as history and mythology.15. Plutarch
Clipart.com
Plutarch is know for writing biographies of famous ancient people Since he lived in the first and second centuries A.D. he had access to material that is no longer available to us which he used to write his biographies. His material is easy to read in translation. Shakespeare closely used Plutarch's Life of Anthony for his tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra.
16. Polybius
Polybius was a second century B.C. Greek historian who wrote a universal history. He went to Rome where he was under the patronage of the Scipio family. His history was in 40 books, but only 5 survive, with fragments remaining of the others.17. Procopius
Procopius was a Byzantine historian of the reign of Justinian. He served as a secretary under Belisarius and witnessed the wars fought from A.D. 527-553. These are described in his 8-volume history of the wars. He also wrote a secret, gossipy history of the court.Although some date his death to 554, a prefect of his name was named in 562, so the date of his death is given as sometime after 562. His birth date is also unknown but was around A.D. 500.
18. Sallust
Clipart.com
Sallust (Gaius Sallustius Crispus) was a Roman historian who lived from 86-35 B.C. Sallust was governor of Numidia in When he returned to Rome, he was charged with extortion. Although the charge didn't stick, Sallust retired to private life where he wrote historical monographs, including Bellum Catilinae 'The War of Catiline' and Bellum Iugurthinum 'The Jugurtine War'.
