The Importance of Herodtous

The father of history, Herodtous, is a staple of this class and fundamentally important to its structure because of the field research, in a sense, that Herodtous was notorious for. Herodtous kept a detailed journal of his ventures while in Greece and Persia. Through this journal he was able to keep descriptive details and encounters of the vast land he found himself on, giving insight to a land unseen. This is a quality that should be noted when traveling. Journaling is not only beneficial for self-reflection of one’s journey, but also to keep on log for future recall of past events.

There is a debate between an individual as a traveler and an individual as a tourist. I believe it is safe to say Herodtous was indeed a traveler, for he immersed himself deeply in the culture through his travels and documented such findings. He took great interest in the terrain that surrounded him and indulged in the culture to feed his need of knowing more.  This is by far one of the most notable qualities, in my opinion, that Herodtous obtains, the need of new knowledge.  Whenever I am traveling, there are so many questions to be answered. There are so many new avenues one can venture down. The need for knowledge and the thirst for new scenery are huge driving factors in embarking on new journeys.  Without these two, one has become the tourist.

Although, I found the content of the reading a little dry, the findings within the document are important to today’s history. Without someone in past years boldly traveling and documenting said individual’s time, the people of today and yesteryear may have had no idea about any differing culture, landscapes, communication, or way of life. All of which contributes to a very deep, rich history of not only to America, but also globally.

If anything can be taken away from Herodtous, the importance of keeping a journal can be well noted. Although, we are young now and may be able to reminice about past travels quite easily, the future will soon be upon us and our memory will fade, a journal will help spark past memories of absolute adventure. A journal can also work much like a history book. The country or state that you visited last week will morph into something much different in ten years.

I think it is also important to note that a journal doesn’t always have to be written. It can be video recordings, voice recordings, or photographic documentation. Everyone’s journal won’t share the same page, express your travels how you feel best comfortable. After all, travel not only frees us from our current location, but also our mind. Travels are your own self expression of life.