The historian Polybius

Talk about history could not be separated from the role of a figure named historian Polybius. Polybius (ca. 200-118 BC), Greek Πολύβιος) was a Greek historian of the Hellenistic period that is known for his book The Histories. He is also known for his ideas about the government system, which is used in L'esprit des lois Montesquieu. He was born in 203 BC in the megalopolis, Arcadia.

He was the son of Lycortas, a Greek politician who became Cavalry Commander of the Achaean League. His opposition to Roman control of Macedonia resulted in him being imprisoned. Polybius was deported to Rome, where Lucius Aemilius Paulus, employed him to teach and mentor his two sons.

Polybius was given the opportunity to return to Macedonia in 152 BC he decided to stay as he was now converted to the allegiance of the Roman Empire. He became a close friend of the Roman military commander Scipio Africanus, and accompanied him to Hispania and Africa. His volume of books "The History" gives a detailed account of how Rome built up its large empire and included his eyewitness accounts of the Roman victory over Hannibal and the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC. Polybius believed that historians should only write about events when they could interview the people who took part in them, and invented the notion of having factual integrity when writing about history, and not being biased.

The substance of Polybius’ Histories is based on historical information, and has a feel that portrays his role as a historian. Polybius’ starts in 264 BC and finishes off in 146 BC (Polybius was born around 200 and died around 117 BC although there is no concrete evidence to support exactly when he was born). He mainly talks about the years in which Ancient Rome became a superpower. This era from 220 BC to 167 BC describes Rome's discourse in subduing its arch-enemy Carthage and becoming the most powerful Mediterranean force. Books I through V are the introduction for the years in which he lived, and they thoroughly describe the politics in each powerful nation. This includes ancient Greece and Egypt. In Book VI he talks about and describes the way of the Romans. He sets out the powers of the differnet parts of the government (republic) as well as the commoners rights, such as voting. He describes the first and second Punic Wars (Carthage vs. Rome). He deduces, that the Romans are the leading power because they are made up of a melting pot of people in which all people have a say and contribute. Therefore the way of thinking is varied which ultimately sparks more individuality and creativity and ultimately contributes to the greater good of Rome. The most interesting episodes are the conflicts between Hannibal and Cornelius Publius Scipio Africanus (ticunus, trebia, etc.). Some punic war conflicts that he wrote about were Saguntum, Lilybaeum, Rhone, Ticunus, and Trebia. In Book XII he discusses the worth of Timaeus’ (historian) version of history and says that Timaeus point of view is inaccurate, invalid, and biased toward Rome. Therefore, Polybius is also useful in analyzing the Hellenistic different versions of history and as a credible illustrator of what really happened during the Hellenistic period.