Overview Of Ambiguity In History: The Greco-Persian War

Ambiguity in History: The Greco-Persian War
Perspective and bias are elements that greatly impact the telling of history. Perspective is simply one person’s point of view. This does not mean one account is wrong or right just that the event is interpreted differently depending on one's role. These influences on perspective can include nationality, job, politics, gender, religion, or status in the culture. (What, 2020) To not view history as it is recorded or read through the lens of perspective is an impossibility. Intionalitionly and empathy are required to understand one's own perspective and that of the historical author. (Libguides, 2023) Bias on the other hand, is a more “ deliberate use of language to present a one sided description.”

After the Greco-Persian Wars, several recounts of the war were written by the Greeks such as Histories by Herodotus. However, there are no direct accounts from the Persians. (Briant, 2015) Two Greeks, Dio Chrysostom a philosopher who lived from 40-110 C.E. (Dio, accessed 2023) and an earlier 4th century B.C. Greek named Ctesias a physician and historian who actually lived in Persia. (Ctesias, accessed 2023) The earlier account will primarily be used as a comparison to Herodotus' version of events. By reading these accounts, one is provided with information and somewhat distinct viewpoints. Awareness of perspective and bias become more important when reading individual versions of the same event.
The Histories was written in around 430 B.C. by Herodotus, a historian from the Greek city of Halicarnassus. The Greco-Persian War is one of the various events of Western history covered in this account. Obviously, the telling is from the Greek perspective. Herodotus tends to focus on the heroics of the Greeks and paints the Persians as a force wanting to destroy freedom. This is evidenced by the use of words such as “ suffered” when it is stated “the Milesians suffered all this at the hands of the Persians.” (Herodotus, accessed