Authority and tradition in ancient historiography

Bibliographic Information

Authority and tradition in ancient historiography

John Marincola

Cambridge Univesity Press, 1997

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Note

Bibliography: p. 293-315

Includes indexes

Description and Table of Contents

Description

This book is a study of the various claims to authority made by the ancient Greek and Roman historians throughout their histories and is the first to examine all aspects of the historian's self-presentation. It shows how each historian claimed veracity by imitating, modifying, and manipulating the traditions established by his predecessors. Beginning with a discussion of the tension between individuality and imitation, it then categorises and analyses the recurring style used to establish the historian's authority: how he came to write history; the qualifications he brought to the task; the inquiries and efforts he made in his research; and his claims to possess a reliable character. By detailing how each historian used the tradition to claim and maintain his own authority, the book contributes to a better understanding of the complex nature of ancient historiography.

Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • 1. The call to history
  • 2. The historian's inquiry
  • 3. The historian's character
  • 4. The historian's deeds
  • 5. The 'lonely' historian
  • Conclusion
  • Appendices.

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Details

  • NCID
    BA3342102X
  • ISBN
    • 0521480191
  • LCCN
    96018630
  • Country Code
    uk
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Place of Publication
    Cambridge
  • Pages/Volumes
    xvi, 361 p.
  • Size
    24 cm
  • Classification
  • Subject Headings
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