Polybius and the Romans introduction the meeting of Greek and Roman culture

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Polybius and the Romansintroduction the meeting
of Greek and Roman culture

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The Hellenistic WorldHellenistic defined

• A Historical Period From the Death of Alexander
  the Great d. 323 BCE to the sack of Corinth 146
  BCE (some include up to 30 BCE, death of
  Cleopatra VII)
• An Artistic Style Characterized By 1.The
  refinement of Classical techniques, 2.The spread
  of Greek artistic styles and culture, 3.The
  fusion of Greek artistic styles and culture with
  local artistic traditions and culture
• A political system where local forms of
  government are under the suzerainty of
  territorial kings (god-kings) who rule over
  spear-won territory.
• Distinctive features as a consequence of
  Greco-Macedonian expansion

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Implications of Hellenistic Developments

• Political in Greece the polis no longer the
  center of real political power
• Hellenistic Monarchies were divided and unable to
  achieve a united Greek World
• Greek world becomes part of the Roman Empire
• Cultural 1.Spread of Greek culture and
  language, 2.Influence of non-Greek culture
• Romanization of the Greek World and at same time
  Hellenization of Rome and Italy

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Hellenistic age

• The Greeks in the Roman Empire looked back to
  Archaic and Classical Greece for sense of
  cultural pride and superiority
• Herodotus, Thucydides, and also Xenophon became
  examples of Greek historiography, models for
  Roman historians reason for survival of their
  works

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Polybius202-120 B.C.

• Father was leading figure in Achaean League
• Achaean League alliance of Greek city states
  opposing Roman domination

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Polybius and the Roman elite

• As hostage in Rome 167 BCE (after battle of Pydna
  168 BCE) was tutor to sons of Lucius Aemilius
  Paullus
• Taken under the patronage of Scipio Aemilianus
  (adopted grandson of Scipio Africanus)
• Was allowed to remain in Rome (as opposed to
  Italian countryside were most hostages would be
  put up)
• 151 BCE travelled with Scipio to Spain and North
  Africa
• 150 BCE allowed to return to Greece
• 149 BCE joined Scipio in Africa witnessed the
  destruction of Carthage
• Died 120 B.C. from fall off a horse at the age of
  82 back in Greece

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Polybius and the Romans continued

• Romans destroyed Corinth in 146 BCE
• Polybius was asked to reorganize region
• travelled extensively through Greece and western
  Roman pronvices
• May have been with Scipio in Spain during capture
  of rebellious Numantia (133 BCE)

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Polybius Work

• His histories in 40 books, covering events
  between 220 to 144 B.C.
• Only the first five books survive fully
• We have the rest in various excerpts
• Books 1 and 2 provide background for his history
  beginning with First Punic War in 264 B.C.
• Book 3 begins his narrative
• Book 6 consists of the description and analysis
  of Roman constitution and army

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Polybius Historical Inquiry

• Aim to investigate how Rome acquired such large
  Empire in such short time
• Believed its success to be due to her
  institutions
• Analyzed it in terms of Aristotles political
  theory
• Romans had mixed constitution containing
  elements of monarchy, aristocracy, democracy
• Believed that the strength of Roman constitution
  lay in the balance between competing interests
• Note Polybius wrote when constitution was still
  respected by Roman politicians

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Polybius approach to history

• History is to be pragmatic, useful for future
  politicians (modeled on Thucydides)
• Believed it to be cyclical
• History not just a narrative of facts but an
  investigation into how and why events occurred
• Criticized Hellenistic tradition of history as
  entertainment with inclusion of myth, drama and
  emotional scenes

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Polybius view of the ideal historian

• 1 must have political experience to understand
  politics and be able to evaluate his sources
• 2 must have geographical knowledge, preferably
  from personal travel
• 3 must not just rely on earlier writings, but
  must personally examine available sources

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Polybius bias

• Due to his Achaean origins, he did not like
  Macedonian kings
• Because of his loyalty to Scipio, he opposed
  Scipios political opponents supported and
  praised Scipio, his family, his friends and
  supporters

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A Turning Point in History

• Polybius wrote at a moment in time when the
  Greeks recognized their complete loss of
  independence.
• Hellenistic monarchies were unable to unite a
  divided Greek World
• For Polybius history now happens in the West -
  with Rome at the centre of Mediterranean History
• For him history was no longer concerned with one
  city or state but involved the entire known world
  (the Mediterranean world)
• First one to write real universal history

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Significance of Polybius Histories

• marks extremely important point in Hellenistic
  historiography
• Systematic writing of history
• Sets new standards for writing history and for a
  historian.
• Provides much information about the 3rd and 2nd
  centuries BCE
• Provides record of growth of Roman power
• His doctrine of mixed constitution had powerful
  political influence on early USA and American
  constitution with separate powers limited by a
  system of balance and checks

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Significance of Polybiushistory

• Became dominant influence on later Roman
  historians
• Although he was a Greek, he became one of the
  three most important historians of Roman history

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Passages analyzed in class

• Book 1.1-4 12-14 II.8 VI.1-2
• Some of the general questions we will pursue for
  all historians we read are what is his purpose
  what does he want to achieve what methods and
  approach does he use what is expected of a
  historian what are his sources what information
  does he provide for the social historian and
  more

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Elements determining the nature of his history

• His Background Greek by birth raised and
  educated in Greece father leader of Achean
  league which opposed Rome until defeated
• Hostage at Rome close to prominent Romans
• Outsider with insight into Roman politics
• Purpose to write a history of the Romans to
  educate his fellow Greeks
• Wrote in Greek for a primarily Greek audience