Fictional History: It Doesn't Matter

Eliza Colbert

    The task of a historian is not an easy one, especially if you are one of the first historians ever. Thucydides certainly had his work cut out for him. He had to be true to the facts while also inspiring the people. He also had to make it readable. Nobody likes to read a bland book that simply states what happened. Speeches such as Pericles’ funeral oration became Thucydides way of spicing up history, making his work more interesting for future readers. I have to admit, it worked. When I read Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War back in tenth grade, the speeches were my favorite part. In order to accomplish this appeal, Thucydides had to write most of these speeches himself. That is not to say that these people did not say something similar to what Thucydides records, but not all of the words were actually said.

    This causes me to question history. How much of history, especially ancient history, actually happened? Now, I am not questioning everything I have ever been taught, (I actually really enjoy history and learning about the past), I simply find this interesting. What actually happened back then and how much is exaggeration? How much is entirely made-up? I would love to travel back in time and see for myself (though that might not be a good idea given that I am a woman). However, the answer to these questions has little impact on history overall. This is not because these events are unimportant but because history is more than just a record of facts.

    In the larger scope of time, it doesn’t really matter whether or not Pericles actually said everything Thucydides says he did. What matters is that this speech was accepted. Thucydides was writing about things that happened in his lifetime; he himself fought in the Peloponnesian Wars. The people of the time would have completely rejected Thucydides’ history if it was false, yet they recognized that the ideals contained in it were truly Athenian. Pericles may not have actually made this exact speech, but he could have. Whether recorded history is entirely true or not does not impact what we learn about the people of the time. From this false speech, we can learn many truths about the Athenians and how they saw themselves. This is why we still read ancient works such as Thucydides. We know that they contain some falsifications, but they are still valuable. Through them, we are able to study these writings and make judgments about the cultures they are from; that is exactly what history is all about.

P.S. I commented on AnnaKate's and Moriah's posts.