Alumni College Fellow

Sydnor Roy

Political Theories in Herodotus' Histories

The field of Ancient Greek Political thought tends to be dominated by 4th century BCE thinkers such as Plato and Aristotle. Herodotus, a 5th century BCE historian, provides a different perspective on politics and the theory of politics. Through his extended historical narrative, he shows how societies tend to choose political structures (monarchy, oligarchy, democracy) based upon their cultural norms and suggests that lasting political change can only be achieved by also enacting cultural change as well. Understanding Herodotus' theory of domestic politics provides greater insight into how international relations worked in the ancient Greek world, and could provide a new model for approaching diplomacy and war in the present.

To learn more about Dr. Sydnor Roy, please visit: Sydnor Roy