According to Livy’s preface, “the chief benefit of history is to behold evidence of every sort of behavior set forth as on a splendid memorial; one may select for yourself and your country what to emulate, from it what to avoid, whether basely begun or basely concluded.” In other words, historical events serve as a foundation for how society and the government should function.
Per Herodotus, the purpose of history is, “human achievements may not become forgotten in time, and great and marvelous deeds may not be without their glory.” Therefore, Herodotus’ purpose is to pay homage to the Greeks and non-Greeks that established the framework for society, government, and warfare.
To know the future is to understand the past. Meaning, the purpose
