How to Write History

In the mid‑160s AD, Lucian's treatise, Πῶς δεῖ ἱστορίαν συγγράφειν, offers a critical examination of historiographical methods amidst the popularity of amateur historical accounts celebrating Rome's Parthian War. Lucian critiques various writers, from physicians to anonymous authors, for their misuse of history and excessive embellishment, emphasizing the importance of brevity and truth in historical writing. He champions Thucydides and Xenophon for their dedication to factual accuracy and clarity, asserting that a true historian's role is to convey what actually happened, a perspective that has profoundly influenced Western historical thought for centuries.