CREATION OF A PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY BY HERODOTUS

The Greco-Persian Wars involved the peoples of Greece in a joint endeavour, which requiired the overcoming of their local conflicts. This will explain why Herodotus succeeded in formulating a complete global philosophy of history. In doing so, he drew on ideas from the cultural heritage of Greece, and the related concept of the instability of human happiness. Originally, however, this concept functioned at the level of the individual. Solon's poetry extend this level to that of the polis, which will help the historian to go a step further to encompass entire nations and empires. The relationship of both Solon and Herodotus to Athens will be a contributory factor in this. With these factors the historian will eventually be able to create a whole philosophy of history.