The Nature of History according to Herodotus

"These are the researches of Herodotus of Halicarnassus, which he publishes, in the hope of thereby preserving from decay the remembrance of what men have done, and of preventing the great and wonderful actions of the Greeks and the Barbarians from losing their due meed of glory; and withal to put on record what were their grounds of feuds. According to the Persians best informed in history, the Phoenicians began to quarrel. " (Proem to Herodotus, The Histories)
In this passage, which begins the work of Herodotus, he sets out his own understanding of the nature of history. First, the word Herodotus uses to describe his work is the Greek word "historia" and is usually translated research. This tells us that Herodotus understood history to be the kind of thing that must be researched. Secondly, Herodotus clearly tells us he does this for the sake of preservation. History then, according to Herodotus, engages in actions of preservation. Next we see that Herodotus wants to preserve very specific things. Actions. But it is not just the actions of the Greeks he is concerned with. Rather he is equally concerned that the "great and wonderful actions of the Greeks and Barbarians" be preserved. This tells us that Herodotus considers history to be impartial to some extent. Finally Herodotus tells that history concerns itself with the causes of events, not simply the relation of events.