Page "Thucydides" Paragraph 21

Thucydides is generally regarded as one of the first true historians.

Like his predecessor Herodotus, known as " the father of history ", Thucydides places a high value on eyewitness testimony and writes about events in which he himself probably took part.

He also assiduously consulted written documents and interviewed participants about the events that he recorded.

Unlike Herodotus, whose stories often teach that a foolish arrogance — hubris — invites the wrath of the gods, Thucydides does not acknowledge divine intervention in human affairs.