History gets a bad rap.

“This is the display of the inquiry of Herodotus of  Halicarnassus, so that things done by man not be forgotten in time, and that great and marvelous deeds, some displayed by the Hellenes, some by the barbarians, not lose their glory, including among others what was the cause of their waging war on each other.” – opening line of The Histories by Herodotus

I’ve heard that history is boring. I mean, who cares about what happened 2,500 years ago? All those folks are gone, anyway.

I think this has much to do with how history is taught – or isn’t taught – in school. I remember history textbooks being drab, dull, boring, and awful. Then in junior high, by chance I picked up a copy of “The Histories” by Herodotus.

At first, I thought a 2,500 year-old text could not possibly be of interest. I wasn’t sure I could even read it. I remember thinking, well, all those ancient Greeks and Romans – don’t you need a PhD to be able to understand that stuff?

Then I read that first line. Whoa. I was blown away. Where’s Halicarnassus? Who were the Hellenes? What barbarians? And what war?

I had no idea. But as I read on, there awakened an interest in learning more. Taken in by Herodotus’ frank, open style, I conducted my own research, reading other ancient authors as well as more contemporary ones. I also branched out into historical fiction and fantasy, reading Bernard Cornwell, Tolkien, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and more. This turned into a lifelong pursuit of the past – and of human nature. That’s what history really is, at least for me.

Herodotus also became a friend, of sorts. The way he gathered and organized information, his penchant for systematic inquiry, and his reporting of what he saw and heard as he traveled around the known world – no matter how outlandish it seemed to him – showed me something.

Herodotus valued curiosity over judgement. He’s also a great storyteller; he blends the humorous with personal observations. He found a way to make history interesting. And he’s humble.

The point is this: if approached in the right way, history can be fascinating. While Herodotus may not be for everyone, there is someone out there who can provide insight into the past in ways that meet us where we are. Seek them out. They’re out there.

Image: statue of Herodotus of Halicarnassus.