Herodotus was a Greek writer and geographer credited with being the first historian. He is referred to as "The Father of History", a title conferred on him by the ancient Roman orator Cicero. His magnum opus is a long account of the Greco-Persian Wars that he called "The Histories." Before Herodotus, no writer had ever made such a systematic, thorough study of the past or tried to explain the cause-and-effect of its events. Herodotus explained that he reported what he "saw and [what was] told to him." A sizable portion of the Histories has since been confirmed by modern historians and archaeologists. Contents: The Translations The Histories SYNOPTIC OUTLINE OF 'THE HISTORIES' The Greek Text PRONOUNCING ANCIENT GREEK