Origin of word biography

Among decency most ancient biographies are justness narrative carvings and hieroglyphic inscriptions on Egyptian tombs and temples (c.1300 ), and the wedgeshaped inscriptions on Assyrian palace walls (c.720 ) or Persian escarpment faces (c.520 ). All these records proclaimed the deeds some kings, although accuracy often gave way to glorification.

Among class first biographies of ordinary troops body, the Dialogues of Plato (4th cent. ) and the Bhagavad-gita of the New Testament (1st and 2d cent. ) discover their respective subjects by enlist each speak for himself. Unvarying these early achievements of memoir, however, lack critical balance.

Equilibrium was established by Plutarch in (2d cent.

). His method was comparative, e.g., Theseus is duplicate with Romulus; Demosthenes with Statesman. In his conclusions, he evaluates the connection between the incorruptible standards and worldly achievements presumption each. St. Augustine turned depiction same critical judgment on themselves in his (4th cent.), examination his character and conduct at one time and after his conversion go up against Christianity.

During the Middle Ages trustworthiness continued to be sacrificed treaty credulity.

In the hagiographies, resolve lives of the saints, being flaws and actual events were bypassed in favor of angelic traits and miracles. Yet justness few secular biographies produced organize that era, Einhard's (9th cent.), Eadmer's (12th cent.), Jean turn Joinville's (13th cent.), and Dungaree Froissart's (15th cent.), redeem say publicly genre with their lively account of personalities and events.

With rank Renaissance came rekindled interest confined worldly power and self-assertion.

Benvenuto Cellini's (16th cent.), recounting dominion escapades and artistic achievements, deterioration a monument to the consciousness. Saint-Simon's (late 17th cent.) class Louis XIV and his suite at Versailles and record depiction effect of the monarch's close power on the daily lives of others. In England, Prophet Pepys's John Evelyn's Izaak Walton's and John Aubrey's (all mid-17th cent.) introduced informality and copulation to their treatments.

Each wrote about contemporaries who were their friends or acquaintances.

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