Historical events in order to be attested and examined by scholars have to derive from some kind of evidence. Such evidence is provided by primordial sources of any kind. It might be a papyrus, an inscription, a votive relief or an archaeological find that may attest to a historical event. It is like watching an event through the eye of those who really lived in it.
Objectivity is such a subjective issue that is formed not only by the author who composes a historical document but also by the reader who pores into the document. There is not an existing frame of truth but only a common perception of it. Therefore, in order to provide an academic paper on history one has to consider what was commonly accepted at the specific period examined. Certainly, it is not always easy to come down with such evidence deriving from different sources but in many cases such paradigms do exist. Historians, orators or even the tragic poets may provide us with such evidence and todays scholars are challenged to accumulate, compare them and reach to a safe conclusion (when examining a historical event or even history itself).
In order to achieve a safe conclusion there are several factors one has to take under great consideration. Such ware:
1. Credibility of the author. This can be achieved by investigating the authors intentions when writing about an event. Where or how the author obtained the sources of his work?
2. Intended audience. What kind of audience is the author addressing to?
3. Objective reasoning. Is the piece of the information covered by facts, opinions or propaganda?
4. Coverage. Does the work update other sources, earlier than his period of leaving? Is the material primary or secondary in nature? Was the document an edition or a revision of earlier sources?
5. Writing style. Is the work of the author organized logically? Are the main points or the events presented clearly?
The main subject of this dissertation paper shall cover the following subject: what was the image of the Macedonian Kingdom by the southern Greeks during the Classical period. How this image is depicted to us nowadays when studying the primordial sources. How were the Macedonians perceiving themselves, leaving in the fringe of the Helladic space? Furthermore, it shall be cover all the later and the updated historical data through the primordial sources available. Unfortunately, the oldest sources derive mostly in non-Macedonian attestations (historians, orators, tragic poets, epigraphs etc.). Only a few attestations have been recovered from the Macedonian region. After a, thorough discussion on the subject with Professor Xydopoulos, we came up with the idea of covering the subject as mentioned. I am most thankful to Mr. Xydopoulos and the Dr. of archaeology Maria Girtzi for concluding to the specific subject which not only is greatly interesting as a challenge for me but moreover will be of a great interest aswell. Prof. Xydopoulos accepted to be recruited as the supervisor of the whole project. For that, I am greatly pleased not only because he is an eminent scholar but also due to the fact that he is approachable as a person and as a friend. With those two mentors (Xydopoulos and Girtzi) and their assistance, I am certain that the result will excel my expectations.
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