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The Histories, Volume IV

Books 9–15
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( 51 ratings, 2 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Histories, Volume IV by Polybius, continues to explore the complexities of the Hellenistic world, focusing on the interwoven events and politics of Greece, Rome, and the broader Mediterranean region. Polybius provides detailed accounts of military campaigns, political developments, and the cultural interactions that shaped this dynamic period. His emphasis on empirical evidence and firsthand observation offers readers a meticulous and insightful historical narrative.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you have a keen interest in ancient history and military strategy. This work by Polybius offers insights into the political and military developments of the Hellenistic period, providing a detailed examination of the rise of the Roman Empire. It's ideal for those fascinated by classical historiography and the interplay of power in ancient times.

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In his history, Polybius (ca. 200–118 BC) is centrally concerned with how and why Roman power spread. The main part of the work, a vital achievement despite the incomplete state in which all but the first five books of an original forty survive, describes the rise of Rome, its destruction of Carthage, and its eventual domination of the Greek world.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The historian Polybius (ca. 200–118 BCE) was born into a leading family of Megalopolis in the Peloponnese and served the Achaean League in arms and diplomacy for many years, favouring alliance with Rome. From 168 to 151, he was held hostage in Rome, where he became a friend of Lucius Aemilius Paulus and his two sons, especially Scipio Aemilianus, whose campaigns, including the destruction of Carthage, he later attended.

Late in his life, as a trusted mediator between Greece and the Romans, he helped in the discussions that preceded the final war with Carthage, and after 146, he was entrusted by the Romans with the details of administration in Greece.

Polybius' overall theme is how and why the Romans spread their power as they did. The main part of his history covers the years 264–146 BCE, describing the rise of Rome, her destruction of Carthage, and her eventual domination of the Greek world. It is a vital achievement of the first importance despite the incomplete state in which all but the first five of its original forty books have reached us.

For this edition, W. R. Paton's excellent translation, first published in 1922, has been thoroughly revised, the Büttner-Wobst Greek text corrected, and explanatory notes and a new introduction added, all reflecting the latest scholarship.

Series: Loeb Classical Library

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Histories, Volume IV by Polybius is highly regarded for its insightful analysis of Rome's rise to Mediterranean dominance. With his firsthand experience as a Greek politician in Rome, Polybius offers a well-organised and knowledgeable perspective on Roman imperialism, significantly enhancing our understanding of this historical period. Denis Feeney from the Times Literary Supplement praises Polybius's comprehensive grasp of his subject matter.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780674996595

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 14 November 2011

Country: United States

Imprint: Harvard University Press

Contributors:

  • Translated by W. R. Paton
  • Revised by F. W. Walbank
  • Revised by Christian Habicht
  • Translated by W. R. Paton
  • Translated by W. R. Paton

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 108.0mm

Height: 162.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 640

About the Author

William Roger Paton (1857–1921) was an independent scholar educated at Oxford and based in Samos. F. W. Walbank was Rathbone Professor of Ancient History and Classical Archaeology at the University of Liverpool and a Fellow of the British Academy. Christian Habicht is Emeritus Professor of Ancient History at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, and a Fellow of the British Academy.

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