How to Write History - Classic Text | Alexandria
How to Write History (Πῶς δεῖ ἱστορίαν συγγράφειν, Quomodo historia conscribenda sit) is a seminal treatise on historiography written by the second-century CE Syrian-Greek satirist and rhetorician Lucian of Samosata. This sophisticated manual, composed around 166-168 CE, represents one of antiquity's earliest and most comprehensive theoretical works on historical methodology and marks a crucial development in the evolution of historical writing.
The text emerged during a period of renewed interest in historiography sparked by the Parthian War (162-166 CE) under Marcus Aurelius, when numerous contemporary historians were producing accounts of the conflict. Lucian's work serves both as a critique of these hastily written histories and as a theoretical framework for proper historical composition. The treatise is presented as a response to what Lucian perceived as a crisis in historical writing, where rhetorical flourish and flattery had begun to overshadow truth and objectivity.
In this groundbreaking work, Lucian establishes fundamental principles of historical writing that continue to resonate with modern historiographical practices. He advocates for impartiality, accuracy, and the primacy of truth over artistic embellishment, famously declaring that the historian's sole duty is to "tell the tale as it happened." The text is particularly noteworthy for its sophisticated understanding of historical methodology, including the critical evaluation of sources, the importance of eyewitness testimony, and the necessity of maintaining analytical distance from events.
Lucian's influence extends far beyond his era, with his principles finding echo in Renaissance historiography and modern historical methods. Contemporary scholars continue to debate the extent to which his guidelines shaped subsequent historical writing, particularly his emphasis on autopsy (firsthand observation) and his insistence on separating historical truth from rhetorical entertainment. The work's enduring relevance lies not only in its practical advice but also in its philosophical questioning of how historical truth can be accurately represented and transmitted across generations. How to Write History remains a cornerstone text in understanding the development of historical consciousness and methodology, provoking ongoing discussions about the nature of historical truth and the historian's role in preserving it.