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Ancient Sources and Interpretation
Quick questions on The Greek historians (Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon) - OCR Ancient History
5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is herodotus?Show answer
Herodotus is the foundation of the period study, so evaluating him (using his narrative while discounting the numbers and the moralising) is a constant skill.
What are thucydides?Show answer
Thucydides is the key source for Sparta in the war and a model of analytical history, but his involvement and composed speeches mean even he must be evaluated.
What is xenophon?Show answer
Xenophon knew Sparta intimately (his sons were educated there) and wrote two prescribed works: the Constitution of the Lacedaemonians, a detailed near-contemporary account of the constitution, agoge and ethos, and the Hellenica, which continues the war to its end and the role of Lysander. His value is his closeness to Sparta; his limitation is that he is openly pro-Spartan and admiring, so his picture is idealised (a late chapter admits decline) and his Hellenica is selective.
What is q1?Show answer
"Thucydides is a more reliable historian than Herodotus." Assess how far you agree. [20 marks, sources style]
What is q2?Show answer
Why is Xenophon's picture of Sparta described as idealised? [2 marks]
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