List of Historians

• Herodotus, (484 – c. 420 BC), Halicarnassus, "Father of History", wrote the Histories that established Western historiography
• Thucydides, (460 – c. 400 BC), Peloponnesian War
• Berossus, (early 3rd century BC), Babylonian historian
• Xenophon, (431 – c. 360 BC), an Athenian knight and student of Socrates
• Ptolemy I Soter (367 BC – c. 283 BC), General of Alexander the Great, founder of Ptolemaic Dynasty
• Manetho (3rd century BC), Egyptian historian and priest from Sebennytos (ancient Egyptian: Tjebnutjer) who lived during the Ptolemaic era
• Timaeus of Tauromenium, (c. 345 – c. 250 BC), Greek history
• Quintus Fabius Pictor, (c. 254 BC – ?), Roman history
• Gaius Acilius, (fl. 155 BC), Roman history
• Polybius, (203 – c. 120 BC), Early Roman history (written in Greek)
• Sima Qian, (c. 145 – c. 86 BC), Chinese history, compiled the Records of the Grand Historian
• Julius Caesar, (100 – c. 44 BC), Gallic and civil wars
• Diodorus of Sicily, (1st century BC), Greek history
• Sallust, (86–34 BC)
• Liu Xiang (scholar), (79–8 BC) (Chinese Han Dynasty), Chinese history
• Dionysius of Halicarnassus, (c. 60 – after 7 BC), Roman history
• Strabo, (63 - 24 AD), geography, Greek history
• Livy, (c. 59 BC – c. 17 AD), Roman history
• Marcus Velleius Paterculus, (c. 19 BC – c. 31 AD), Roman history
• Ban Biao, (3–54), (Chinese Han Dynasty), started the Book of Han that was completed by his son and daughter
• Quintus Curtius Rufus, (c. 60–70), Greek history
• Ban Gu, (32–92), (Chinese Han Dynasty)
• Flavius Josephus, (37–100), Jewish history
• Pamphile of Epidaurus, (female historian active during the reign of Nero, r. 54–68), Greek history
• Ban Zhao, (45–116), (Chinese Han Dynasty, China's first female historian)
• Thallus, (early 2nd century AD), Roman history
• Plutarch, (c. 46 – 120), would not have counted himself as an historian, but is a useful source because of his Parallel Lives of important Greeks and Romans
• Gaius Cornelius Tacitus, (c. 56 – c. 120), early Roman Empire
• Suetonius, (75–160), Roman emperors up to Flavian dynasty
• Appian, (c. 95 – c. 165), Roman history
• Arrian, (c. 92–175), Greek history
• Lucius Ampelius, (3rd century AD?), Roman history
• Dio Cassius, (c. 160 – after 229), Roman history
• Herodian, (c. 170 – c. 240), Roman history
• Chen Shou, (233–297), (Chinese Jin Dynasty), compiled the Records of the Three Kingdoms
• Eusebius of Caesarea, (c. 275 – c. 339), Early Christian
• Ammianus Marcellinus, (c. 325 – c. 391), Roman history
• Fa-Hien, (c. 337 – c. 422), Chinese Buddhist monk and historian
• Rufinus of Aquileia, (c. 340 – 410), Early Christian
• Philostorgius, (368 – c. 439), Early Christian
• Socrates of Constantinople, (c. 380 – ?), Early Christian
• Theodoret, (c. 393 – c. 457), Early Christian
• Fan Ye (historian), (398–445), Chinese history, compiled the Book of Later Han
• Priscus, (5th century), Byzantine history
• Sozomen (c. 400 – c. 450), Early Christian
• Salvian, (c. 400/405 – c. 493), Early Christian
• Movses Khorenatsi, (13 January 410–488), History of Armenians since 2492 BC

Historians and chroniclers 

• Shen Yue, (441–513), History of the Liu Song Dynasty (420–479)
• John Malalas, (c. 491 – 578), Early Christian
• Zosimus, (fl. 491 – 518), Late Roman history
• Procopius, (c. 500 – c. 565), Byzantine, useful for writings on the reign of Justinian and Theodora
• Jordanes, (6th century), Goth, who wrote a history of people
• Gregory of Tours, (538–594), A History of the Franks
• Baudovinia, (fl. c. 600), Frankish nun who wrote a biography of Radegund
• Yao Silian, (d. 637), (Chinese Tang Dynasty), compiled the Book of Liang and Book of Chen
• Adamnan, (625–704), Irish historian
• Bede, (c. 672 – 735), Anglo-Saxons
• Tírechán, (fl. c. 655), Irish biographer of Saint Patrick
• Cogitosus, (fl. c. 650), Irish historian
• Muirchu moccu Machtheni, (7th century), Irish historian
• Paul the Deacon, (8th century), Langobards
• Constantine of Preslav, (Late 9th century – Early 10th century), Bulgarian historian
• Nennius, (9th century?), Shadowy historian of Wales
• Martianus Hiberniensis, (819–875), Irish teacher and historian
• Einhard, (9th century), Biographer of Charlemagne
• Notker of St Gall, (9th century), Anecdotal biography of Charlemagne
• Regino of Prüm, (died 915)
• Asser, Bishop of Sherborne, (died 908/909), Welsh historian
• Muhammad al-Tabari, (838–923), Great Persian historian
• Liutprand of Cremona, (922–972), Byzantine affairs
• Li Fang, (925–996) Chinese editor of the Four Great Books of Song
• Heriger of Lobbes, (925–1007)
• Al-Biruni, (973 – 1048), Persian historian
• Thietmar of Merseburg, (25 July 975 – 1 December 1018), German, Polish, and Russian affairs
• Ibn Rustah, (10th century), Persian historian and traveler
• Albert of Aix, (fl. circa AD 1100) historian of the First Crusade
• Nestor the Chronicler, (c. 1056 – c. 1114, in Kiev) author of the Russian Primary Chronicle
• Gallus Anonymus, (fl. 11th–12th centuries), Polish historian
• Michael Attaleiates, (c. 1015 – c. 1080)
• Michael Psellus, (1018 – c. 1078)
• Sima Guang, (1019–1086), historiographer and politician
• Marianus Scotus, (1028–1082/1083), Irish chronicler
• Guibert of Nogent, (1053–1124)
• Adam of Bremen, (second half of the 11th century) Historian of Scandinavia, work Gesta Hammaburgensis Ecclesiae Pontificum.
• Galbert of Bruges, (12th century), Flemish chronicler
• Florence of Worcester, (died 1118), English chronicler
• Eadmer, (c. 1066 – c. 1124), post-Conquest English history
• Kim Bu-sik, (1075–1151), Korean historian, author of the Samguk Sagi
• William of Malmesbury (1095–1143), English
• Symeon of Durham, (died after 1129), English chronicler
• William of Malmesbury, (c. 1080 – c. 1143)
• Anna Comnena, (1083 – after 1148)
• Usamah ibn Munqidh, (1095–1188)
• Geoffrey of Monmouth, ((c. 1100 – c. 1155)), churchman/historian
• Helmold of Bosau, (ca. 1120 – after 1177), German chronicler
• William of Tyre, (c. 1128–1186)
• Alured of Beverley, (fl. 1143), English chronicler
• William of Newburgh, (1135–1198), English historian called "the father of historical criticism"
• Svend Aagesen, (C. 1140 to 1150), death unknown)), Danish Historian
• Mohammed al-Baydhaq, (fl. 1150), Moroccan historian
• John of Worcester, (fl. 1150s), English chronicler
• Giraldus Cambrensis, (c. 1146 – c. 1223)
• Wincenty Kadlubek, (1161–1223), Polish historian
• Ambroise, (fl. 1190s), Anglo-Norman poet, wrote verse narrative of the Third Crusade
• Geoffroi de Villehardouin, (c. 1160–1212)
• Kalhana, (c. 12th century) historian of Kashmir.
• Saxo Grammaticus, (12th century), Danish
• John Zonaras, (12th century), Byzantine chronicler
• Nicetas Choniates, (died c. 1220)
• Snorri Sturluson, (c. 1178 – 1241), Icelandic historian
• Abdelwahid al-Marrakushi (born 1185) Moroccan historian
• Ata al-Mulk Juvayni, (1226–83), Persian historian
• Ibn al-Khabbaza (died 1239) Moroccan historian
• Matthew Paris, (died 1259)
• Domentijan (1210–1264), Serbian monk and chronicler
• Il-yeon, (1206–1289), Korean historian, author of the Samguk Yusa
• Salimbene di Adam, (1221 – c. 1290), Italian
• Abdelaziz al-Malzuzi (died 1298) Moroccan historian
• Templar of Tyre, (c. 1230–1314), end of the Crusades
• Adam of Eynsham d. c. 1233 – English hagiographer and writer, abbot of Eynsham Abbey
• Jean de Joinville, (1224–1319)
• Piers Langtoft, (died c. 1307)
• Rashid-al-Din Hamadani, (1247–1317), Persian historian
• Giovanni Villani, (1276 – 1348), Italian chronicler from Florence who wrote the Nuova Cronica
• Ibn Idhari ( late 13th and the early 14th century) Moroccan historian
• Ibn Abi Zar (fl. 1315) Moroccan historian
• Abdullah Wassaf, (1299–1323), Persian historian
• Song Lian, (1310–1381), (Chinese Ming Dynasty), wrote the History of Yuan
• Toqto'a, (1314–1356), (Chinese Yuan Dynasty) Mongol historian who compiled the History of Song
• ibn Khaldun, (1332–1406), North African historian "of the world"
• John Clyn, fl. 1333–1349, Irish historian
• Baldassarre Bonaiuti, (1336–1385) a chronicler (historian) of the 14th century
• Jean Froissart, (c. 1337 – c. 1405), chronicler
• Dietrich of Nieheim, (c. 1345–1418), ecclesiastic history
• John of Fordun, Scottish chronicler (d. 1384)
• Ruaidhri Ó Cianáin (died 1387)
• Christine de Pizan, (c. 1365 – c. 1430), historian, poet, philosopher
• Álvar García de Santa María, (1370–1460)
• Seán Mór Ó Dubhagáin, d. 1372
• Adhamh Ó Cianáin, d. 1373
• Ismail ibn al-Ahmar (1387–1406) Moroccan historian
• Giolla Íosa Mór Mac Fhirbhisigh, fl. 1390–1418
• John Capgrave, (1393–1464)
• Alphonsus A Sancta Maria, (1396–1456)
• Jan Długosz, (1 December 1415 – 19 May 1480) Polish historian and chronicler
• Sharaf ad-Din Ali Yazdi, d. 1454, Persian historian
• Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa, (1439–1498), compilor and annalist.
• Philippe de Commines, (1447 – 18 October 1511), French historian
• Robert Fabyan, (died 1513)
• Albert Krantz, (1450–1517)
• Hector Boece, (1465–1536) Scottish philosopher and historian. Wrote "Historia Gentis Scotorum"
• Polydore Vergil, (c. 1470–1555), Tudor history
• Sigismund von Herberstein, (1486–1566), Muscovite affairs
• João de Barros, (1496–1570)
• Niccolò Machiavelli, (1469–1527), author of Florentine Histories
• Francesco Guicciardini, (1483–1540), historian of the Italian Wars, "Storia d'Italia"
• Josias Simmler, (1530–1576)
• Paolo Paruta, (1540–1598), Venetian historian
• Raphael Holinshed, (died c. 1580)
• Caesar Baronius, (1538–1607)
• Abd al-Qadir Bada'uni, (1540–1615), Indo-Persian historian
• Abd al-Aziz al-Fishtali (1549–1621), Moroccan historian
• Ahmad Ibn al-Qadi (1553–1616) Moroccan historian
• John Hayward, (1564–1627)
• Pilip Ballach Ó Duibhgeannáin (fl. 1579–1590)
• James Ussher, (4 January 1581 – 21 March 1656), Chronology of the History of the World
• William Bradford, (1590–1657), Mayflower/Plymouth Colony of America
• Bahrey (1593), an Ethiopian monk and historian. Wrote Zenahu le Galla (History of the Galla, now the Oromo)