Etymological definition of autobiography in literature

Etymology:

• auto- (Greek): self
• bio- (Greek): life
• -graphy (Greek): writing

Meaning:

An autobiography is a written account of a person's life, written by that person.

Origin:

The term "autobiography" was first coined in 1809 by the British physician and lexicographer Robert Southey. However, the practice of writing about one's own life has existed for centuries before.

Ancient Origins:

• Ancient Egypt: Autobiographical inscriptions were common on tombs and stelae, recounting the achievements and virtues of the deceased.
• Ancient Greece: Xenophon's "Anabasis" (4th century BCE) is one of the earliest known examples of a first-person account of a military expedition.
• Ancient Rome: Julius Caesar's "Commentarii de Bello Gallico" (58-50 BCE) is a classic example of a historical autobiography written by a military leader.

Middle Ages:

Autobiographical writing continued in various forms, incl