Polybius' Histories is one of classical antiquity's great political narratives. Written in 40 books (of which only the first five are preserved in full), it originally set out to explain the dramatic rise of Rome in the half century from the war against Hannibal to the defeat and abolishment of the [...]

From his first publication, Aratos of Sicyon (1933), to his death in 2008, F. W. Walbank established himself as one of the leading ancient historians of the last century. His many publications - not least his three-volume commentary on the Greek historian of Roman power, Polybius - transformed the s[...]

Arthur Eckstein's fresh and stimulating interpretation challenges the way Polybius' Histories have long been viewed. He argues that Polybius evaluates people and events as much from a moral viewpoint as from a pragmatic, utilitarian, or even "Machiavellian" one. Polybius particularly asks for "impro[...]

The historian Polybius (ca. 200-118 BCE) was born into a leading family of Megalopolis in the Peloponnese (Morea) and served the Achaean League in arms and diplomacy for many years, favoring alliance with Rome. From 168 to 151 he was held hostage in Rome, where he became a friend of Lucius Aemilius [...]

The Histories of Greek-born, Roman historian Polybius (c.200-118 BCE) are reissued here in two volumes. Undertaken by the classicist Evelyn Shuckburgh (1843-1906), this first complete English translation (utilising F. Hultsch's 1867-72 Greek text) was published in 1889. A tutor, and later librarian,[...]

Polybius and Roman Imperialism explores in depth the complexity of the Greek historian Polybius' views on the expansion of Roman power. Although he considered imperialism intrinsically noble, and both admired and supported Roman domination, Polybius also evinced detachment from the ruling power. Th[...]