Secondary sources are works produced by individuals who were not directly involved in the events they describe. These sources interpret, analyze, and discuss information obtained from primary sources or other secondary sources.
In ancient history, secondary sources include history books, scholarly articles, and biographies written by historians who have studied the primary materials from the time period in question. These sources are essential for understanding how historical events have been interpreted and reinterpreted over time.
“The Histories” by Herodotus is considered one of the first secondary sources in Western history, where he compiled and interpreted accounts of the Greco-Persian Wars, despite not having witnessed all the events himself.
« Back to Glossary Index