Figure 1.-- The first artifacts that we might call history come from Egypt (4th millenium BC). It is known as the Narmer Palette (also called the Great Hierakonpolis Palette or the Palette of Narmer). Archeologists date it at the 32nd-31st century BC. It has some of the earliest hieroglyphic inscriptions yet found. Of course we have no idea who created the Narmer Palette. It must have been commissioned by the Pharoah Narmer himself or perhaps a descendent. Presumably court advisors would have designed it. Narmer was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the Early Dynastic Period (about 32nd century BC). There is not only historical information here, but also useful information about clothing. Click on the image for a fuller discussion.

Efforts to write history came only after the development of civilization which meant the three great river valley civilizations. Modern writers can write about earlier periods, but contemporary efforts at history only begin with the great river valley civilizations. And this meant millennia these civilizations began to develop. For history to be written, writing systems of course had to be developed. The first artifacts that we might call history come from Egypt (4th millennium BC). It is known as the Narmer Palette (also called the Great Hierakonpolis Palette or the Palette of Narmer). Archeologists date it at the 32nd-31st century BC. It has some of the earliest hieroglyphic inscriptions yet found. Of course we have no idea who created the Narmer Palette. It must have been commissioned by the Pharoah Narmer. He was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the Early Dynastic Period (about 32nd century BC). The Greek writer Herodotus who was born in Halicarnassus, Caria (modern Bodrum, Turkey). He lived 27 centuries later in the fifth century BC (c484–425 BC). Ad is often referred to as the 'father of history'. This was a title first conferred by Cicero. The title comes more from the fact that he was the first actual author who made an attempt at history rather than any attempt at the modern a historical method. He was the first author known to have collect his materials systematically and critically. He then arranged them into a historiographic narrative. His masterpiece was 'The Historie', the only work that he known to have produced, it is the product of his 'inquiry'. His title (historía) is a word that passed into Latin, acquiring the modern meaning. Modern historians would find his work unacceptable. although far too many let their ideological mind set control their historical work adopting ahistorical concepts like Critical Race Theory (CRT) and the 1619 Project. Herodotus' 'Histories, a highly partisan celebration of the Greek victories over the Persians. He wrote them in the mid-5th century BC. Along with a discussion of the Persian Wars, Herodotus tossed in what ever crossed his mind at the time. His description of the Persian Empire is a fascinating description reading more like a travelog than a historical work. Herodotus also delved into mythological pre-history when explaining the background of the conflict. Despite Herodotus' many weakened as a historian, his notable work was a huge advance over previous compilers of what might be called quasi-history--the logographers. There are major inaccuracies in his work. He is also known as the 'father of lies'. He attempts to explain inaccuracies by pointing ut he was only reporting what he was told.

Created: 8:36 PM 7/14/2011
Last updated: 6:54 PM 3/9/2025