Who is recognized as Rome's first historian?

C. Fabius Pictor is recognized as Rome's first historian because he is credited with writing one of the earliest works of Roman history, "Annales," around the 3rd century BCE. His approach to documenting historical events set the foundation for future historians in Rome. Fabius Pictor’s work marked a significant shift in how history was recorded in Rome, as he aimed to provide a narrative of the Roman past that was more than just a list of events—it was intended to be informative and engaging.

The significance of Fabius Pictor lies in his use of prose to depict historical events and his emphasis on the moral lessons derived from history. This set a standard for later historians like Livy and Tacitus, who built upon his methods. While Livy and Tacitus are well-known for their substantial contributions to historical writing, they came afterward and were influenced by the groundwork laid by early historians like Fabius Pictor.