The Histories, Vol 3: Books 5-8

Loeb Polybius histories #3

by Polybius, William Roger Paton (Translator)

Polybius (born ca. 208 BCE) of Megalopolis in the Peloponnese (Morea), served the Achaean League in arms and diplomacy for many years, favouring alliance with Rome. From 168 to 151 he was hostage in Rome where he became a friend of Aemilius Paulus and his two sons, and especially adopted Scipio Aemilianus whose campaigns he attended later. In late life he was trusted mediator between Greece and the Romans whom he admired; helped in the discussions which preceded the final war with Carthage; and, after 146, was entrusted by the Romans with details of administration in Greece. He died at the age of 82 after a fall from his horse. The main part of Polybius's history covers the years 264–146 BCE. It describes the rise of Rome to the destruction of Carthage and the domination of Greece by Rome. It is a great work, accurate, thoughtful, largely impartial, based on research, full of insight into customs, institutions, geography, causes of events and character of people; it is a vital achievement of first rate importance, despite the incomplete state in which all but the first five of the forty books have reached us. Polybius's overall theme is how and why the Romans spread their power as they did. The Loeb Classical Library edition of Polybius is in six volumes.

Genres: History, Classics, Nonfiction, Ancient History

554 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 176

About the author

Polybius (ca. 200–118 BC), Greek Πολύβιος) was a Greek historian of the Hellenistic Period noted for his book called The Histories covering in detail the period of 220–146 BC. He is also renowned for his ideas of political balance in government, which were later used in Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws and in the drafting of the United States Constitution.

Reviews

[Lukerik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came to this looking for the conclusion of Hannibal’s invasion of Italy, and based on the plan followed in the previous two volumes I expected it right up front in book five. This was not to be. The story is continued - but not concluded - in book eight. This volume is quite a collection of different stuff so I’ll give a brief run-down in case anyone is looking for anything in particular.

Book five is complete and continues the tale of Greece. This must surely be the most boring period of history ever. I skipped much of it. However, Polybius does move on to Egypt and the Seleucid empire and their conflict during the same period. Very interesting stuff.

We then have the fragmentary remains of books six, seven and eight. These are not the remains of some mouldy papyrus but mostly lengthy Byzantine extracts.

Book six is his treatise on the Roman constitution. I know that sounds dull but it really is the stand-out part of the whole volume. He doesn’t just give the Roman constitution, but compares it with other ancient constitutions. He also describes the workings of the Roman armies while on campaign and the way they set up their camps. This is an eye-witness account, folks, and really shows off the total precision and clarity of Polybius’s style. You can picture it so clearly. I’m five-starring this book on the strength of this section alone.

Book seven recounts the Roman assault on Syracuse and Archimedes’s cunning defence of the city. You heard it here first, folks.

[Lise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this, especially Book 6 and its easy to understand explanation of the Roman government.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

back on the academia 💪 lots of unnecessary (in my opinion) details about the inner workings of the roman army but overall really great source work

[Juan Pablo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comento la primera parte del libro VI: Polibio presenta una teoría de los gobiernos muy similar a la de Aristóteles y presenta una propia, de la anaciclosis o sucesión de los regímenes (que no es enteramente original).
Nos explica, además, que el mejor gobierno es uno misto, donde estén presentes los tres "regímenes puros". Roma tendría ese gobierno, al igual que los LAcedemonios; pero a diferencia de éstos, los romanos han sabido ir más allá de su ciudad, tomar lo mejor de cada nación que se encuentran, articular un sistema de administración imperial exitoso y ser los señores del mundo.
Es recomendable leer a Polibio, por ser un autor importante de su época, y más éste libro VI, que es el más característico.

[Alexander Rolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many interesting details-- how elephants actually fought in war, what Rhodes did when the Colossus collapsed-- good stuff. I just wish these volumes had maps.