A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Nepos,
about 99-24
B.C.
Pompeius,
Trogus.
Strabo.
His work was
composed under
Augustus
and revised
under Tiberius.
Plutarch,
about 50-125
A.D.
74 Introduction to the Sources
descriptions of countries and nations, however, are excellent;
and in spite of all defects, his work is indispensable,
as it is our main source for long periods of ancient history.
Of the forty books, we have the first five, the eleventh
to the twentieth, and fragments of the other parts.
In this age Romans were interesting themselves in
writing about Greek men and affairs.
Nepos composed
biographies, among which we still have the lives of several
famous Greek generals;
inferior and untrustworthy writer.
they show him to have been an
In the age of Augustus
Pompeius Trogus, a Roman of Gallic birth, wrote in Latin
a history of the world down to his own time.
Undoubtedly
it was more meritorious than the history of Diodorus,
though we know it
the second century A.D. by Justin.
only through a poor abridgment of
Nearly contemporary with Trogus was Strabo, the
geographer. After travelling through many countries
and learning much from earlier writers, he composed a
description of the known world in seventeen books. He
gives useful historical information also regarding many of
the places which he mentions. Though he wrote in Greek
and had Greek blood in his veins, he was a native of Pontus
in
Asia Minor, and probably composed his work for the
reigning queen of that country.
The most famous Greek writer of the Christian era was
Plutarch, the biographer. He was a philosopher and a
man of sincere religious convictions, high moral purpose,
and lovable character. His parallel Lives of Greeks and
Romans has probably been read by more persons than any
other book by a single author.
Although the writer lacks
historical training and critical judgment, his biographies
are among the most instructive sources for the persons
and events of which they treat.