The Rise of the Roman Empire

by Polybius; Scott-Kilvert, Ian (Translator); Walbank, F W (Introduction by)

• ISBN13: 9780140443622
• ISBN10: 0140443622
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1980-02-28
• Publisher: Penguin Classics

Summary

in writing his account of the relentless growth of the Roman Empire, the Greek statesman Polybius (c. 200-118 BC) set out to help his fellow countrymen understand how their world came to be dominated by Rome. Opening with the Punic War in 264 BC, he vividly records the critical stages of Roman expansion: its campaigns throughout the Mediterranean, the temporary setbacks inflicted by Hannibal and the final destruction of Carthage in 146 BC. An active participant in contemporary politics as well as a friend of many prominent Roman citizens, Polybius was able to draw on a range of eyewitness accounts and on his own experiences of many of the central events, giving his work immediacy and authority. ian Scott-Kilvert's translation fully preserves the clarity of Polybius' narrative. This substantial selection of the surviving volumes is accompanied by an introduction by F.W.Walbank, which examines Polybius' life and times, and the sources and techniques he employed in writing his history.

Table of Contents

The Rise of the Roman Empire List of Maps
Introduction
Translator's Note

Book I: Introduction; The First Punic War

Book II: Affairs in Spain; The Romans in Illyria; Affairs in Spain; Rome and the Gauls; Affiars in Spain; Events in Greece: the Achaean League

Book III: Introduction; The Second Punic War; The Second Illyrian War; The Second Punic War; The Second Illyrian War; The Second Punic War

Book IV: Affairs in Greece; Civil War in Cynaetha; Byzantium and the Black Sea

Book V: Affairs in Egypt: The Death of Cleomenes; Affairs in Greece: Philip and the Greeks

Book VI: From the Preface; On the Forms of States; On the Roman Constitution at Its Prime; The Roman Military System; The Roman Republic Compared with Others; Conclusion

Book VII: Affairs in Sicily; Affairs in Greece: The Treaty between Hannibal and Philip of Macedon, The Character of Philip

Book VIII: Affairs in Sicily: The Siege of Syracuse; Affairs in Greece: Philip of Macedon; Macedon; Affairs in Italy: The Siege of Tarentum

Book IX: Introduction; Affairs in Italy: The Seige of Capua; On Generalship; The Character of Hannibal

Book X: The Character of Scipio; Affairs in Spain: The Capture of New Carthage, Scipio and the Spaniards

Book XI: Affairs in Italy: The Battle of the Metaurus; The Character of Hannibal

Book XII: Criticisms of Timaeus and His Approach to History: Errors on the Fauna of Africa and Corsica, Errors Concerning Sicily, Intentional and Unintentional Falsehoods, Timaeus on Callisthenes, Demoshares of Athens, Agathocles of Sicily, Timaeus' Criticisms of Other Writers, Timaeus on the Bull of Phalaris, Timaeus' Methods in Composing Speeches, Comparison of History and Medicine, Timaeus' Lack of Political and Military Experience and Unwillingness to Travel, The Causes of Timaeus' Faults and Qualities of the Good Historian

Book XIV: Affairs in Africa: Scipio's Campaigns

Book XV: Affairs in Africa: The Final Campaign; The End of the Second Punic War; Affaris in Macedonia, Syria and Egypt; Affairs in Egypt: A Palace Revolution

Book XVIII: Affairs in Greece: Flamininus and Philip; On Treachery; On the Phalanx; Affairs in Greece" Flamininus and the Peace Settlement

Book XXIV: Affairs in Greece: Philopoemen and Aristaenus

Book XXXI: Affairs in Rome and Syria: The Escape of Demetrius; Affairs in Italy: Aemilius Paullus, Scipio and Polybius

Book XXXVI: Affairs in Rome and Carthage: The Third Punic War; On Fate and Chance

Book XXXIX: From the Epilogue

Maps
Chronological Table
Index