Thinking, Recording, and Writing History in the Ancient World

When and why did ancient peoples begin to think about the past, record, and write history? Thinking, Recording, and Writing History in the Ancient World explores the many ways in which ancient civilizations thought about the past, recorded it, and wrote their own histories - and the role of historical thinking and writing in ancient societies. Demonstrating how a concern about the past and thoughts of history are hallmarks of all developed civilizations, this collection discusses the ways in which such thoughts and concerns found expression in various ancient or early cultures. An international group of scholars working in many disciplines contribute chapters that address historical thinking and writing in a range of ancient cultures in East, South, and West Asia, the Mediterranean, and the Americas. They also discuss historiography shaped by religious perspectives, including Judaism, early Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. By presenting a cross-cultural comparison of early societies' attempts to deal with the past, Thinking, Recording, and Writing History in the Ancient World offers readers invaluable insights into pre-modern historical thinking and writing.