Imperial Imagined Geographies and Greek Worldviews: Center and Periphery in Herodotus

Abstract It is well documented that the Teispid-Achaemenid Empire drew on spatial concepts that resonated with those of subject societies in their imperial narratives. In doing so, the empire provided its subjects with a shared geographic sense of belonging, enabling them to envision their place within the imperial space. This article examines the themes of center and periphery in Achaemenid imperial imagined geography and Herodotus’ Histories , exploring whether and how these themes are related. It will be argued that the empire’s conception of space, as outlined in royal inscriptions, impacted the principles by which Herodotus describes the world’s design. The depiction of the peripheries of the inhabited world in the Histories aligns with the empire’s spatial notions, while its concept of centrality also reflects an imperial framework, though it was adapted for a Greek audience to suit their perspectives. By situating Herodotus’ descriptions within the context of imperial communication with subjects, it becomes apparent that imperial imagined geography serves as one conceptual framework underlying his description of the inhabited world.