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.
21. Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus (c.71-c.135) wrote the Lives of the Twelve Caesars, a set of biographies of the heads of Rome from Julius Caesar through Domitian. Born in the Roman province of Africa, he became a protegé of Pliny the Younger, who provides us with biographical information on Suetonius through his Letters. The Lives are often described as gossipy. Jona Lendering's Bio of Suetonius provides a discussion of the sources Suetonius used and his merits as an historian.22. Tacitus
Clipart.com
P. Cornelius Tacitus (A.D. 56 - c. 120) may have been the greatest Roman historian. He held the positions of senator, consul, and provincial governor of Asia. He wrote "Annals," "Histories," "Agricola," "Germany," and a dialogue on oratory.
23. Theodoret
Theodoret wrote an Ecclesiastical History up to A.D. 428. He was born in 393, in Antioch, Syria, and became bishop in 423, in the village of Cyrrhus.24. Thucydides
Clipart.com
Thucydides (born c. 460-455 B.C.) had first hand information about the Peloponnesian War from his pre-exile days as an Athenian commander. During his exile he interviewed people on both sides and recorded their speeches in his History of the Peloponnesian War. Unlike his predecessor, Herodotus, he didn't delve into the background but laid out the facts as he saw them, chronologically or annalistically.
