‘If history is deprived of the truth, we are left with nothing but an idle, unprofitable tale’

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 technique he employed in writing his history.