September 8 - Book 1 (all)
- What does Herodotus see as the purpose of his work? What does he see as his relation with the earlier authors you may have read, such as Homer and Hesiod?
- Why does Herodotus include the Solon/Croesus meeting, even though it could not possibly have happened? What does it show about how we should read the Histories? Can it be applied elsewhere in Book 1?
- What role does Herodotus see the gods and fate as playing in history? What role does this leave for human decisions?
- What does the Persian ethnography reveal about Herodotus and his tolerance of non-Greeks? What do the Persian customs he highlights reveal about the Greeks and their civilization?
September 25 - Book 2 (all)
- What is the purpose of story of Heracles in Egypt (2.43) for Herodotus?
- Pick out some Egyptian customs and try to explain why Herodotus has chosen to highlight them.
- What are the characteristics of the kings highlighted by Herodotus? What do these reveal about his views on monarchy and government?
- Why does Herodotus devote so much space to describing the ancient Egyptians?
October 9 - Book 3 (all)
- Why is Cambyses successful at first, and why does he ultimately fail, according to Herodotus? How does Cambyses compare to Cyrus?
- Why does Herodotus include the long story of Polycrates, and what are the ramifications of this in Book 3?
- The descriptions of different types of governments in 3.80-82 is based on Greek thought. Why then does Herodotus put it in the mouths of the Persians? How well do the different rulers and governments we’ve seen in the Histories so far support these descriptions? Can we draw any conclusions about Herodotus’ preferred system of government?
- Pick out some of the various “barbarian” customs described in Book 3 and try to explain why Herodotus has chosen to highlight them.
October 23 - Book 4 (all)
- Based on the first four books, what can we infer about Herodotus’ methods of research for his history?
- How does Darius’ disastrous invasion of Scythia compare to Cyrus’ attach on the Massagetae and Cambyses’ invasion of Ethiopia?
- Pick out some of the various “barbarian” customs described in Book 4, particularly of the Scythians and try to explain why Herodotus has chosen to highlight them.
- Why does Herodotus include the long digression on the geography of the world in Book 4?
November 6 - Books 5 & 6 (all)
- How is Herodotus contrasting Athens and Sparta in Book 5?
- What does Socleas argue in his long speech to the Spartans in Book 5? How is it relevant to the Histories as a whole?
- Why do the Ionians revolt? What is Herodotus’ attitude towards the revolt?
- Why does Herodotus spend so much time discussing the rivalries of the Spartan kings?
November 20 - Book 7 (all)
- What is the attitude of Herodotus towards Xerxes and how is this similar or different from other leaders? Does he portray Xerxes as a simple despot, or is there more to him?
- What role does Herodotus see the gods and fate as playing in Xerxes’ decision to invade Greece? What role does this leave for human decisions? Is this different than in Book 1?
- What does Herodotus see as defining the Greeks as "Greek?" Is there a particular "Greek" identity that transcends individual cities? How does Herodotus feel about the political divisions of the Greeks?
December 4 - Books 8 & 9