Born c. 484 B.C.,
Halicarnassus, Greece
Died c. 425 B.C.,
Thurii, Greece

Herodotus is known as the father of history. His History, an account of the Persian-Greek wars, is considered to be the first attempt at historical writing. Herodotus was born at Halicarnassus, a Greek colony on the coast of Asia Minor (now Turkey), where his parents, Lyxes and Dryo, seem to have been prominent citizens. Herodotus exhibited intense curiosity about the Greek world, and he began to travel extensively as a young man.

Travels through the ancient world

Although the exact period of his travels has not been determined, Herodotus apparently left Halicarnassus around 454 B.C. and journeyed to the Aegean island of Samos. He may have returned briefly to Halicarnassus before going to Athens. He then traveled to Asia Minor, the Aegean Islands, Greece, Macedonia, Thrace, the coast of the Black Sea as far as the...