Why do historians still value Pliny the Elder’s Natural History despite its scientific inaccuracies?

Historians continue to value Pliny the Elder’s Natural History because it serves as an essential, honest résumé of 1st-century Rome. Despite its scientific inaccuracies, the work is considered one of the greatest literary monuments of classical antiquity.1

Its enduring importance stems from several key factors:

• Preservation of Knowledge: Pliny meticulously compiled scattered material from over 100 sources, many of which are now lost. By recording Latin synonyms for Greek terms, he made earlier scientific knowledge identifiable to later generations.1
• Historical Insight: The text provides invaluable evidence regarding Roman life, including details on botany, agriculture, geography, and technology. For instance, his descriptions of Roman gardens and agricultural techniques—such as his account of a grain harvester—have been corroborated by archaeological findings.1
• Cultural Record: His observations on diet, the economics of medicine, and the habits of Roman craftsmen offer a unique window into the social and commercial realities of his time.1
• Methodical Compilation: Pliny is valued for his ability to assemble vast amounts of information in a readable, methodical fashion, which helped shape intellectual history for centuries.12