Dějiny III (Polybios) – Polybios (2022)

The Ancient Library No. 80 Polybius's historical work has survived partly in completeness and partly in fragments. The first five books, which have survived intact, were published in the previous two volumes – History I and History II. The third part of Polybius's Histories contains the preserved sections and fragments of books 6 to 19. They more or less coherently capture events in various parts of the ancient world between 216 and 196 BC. A central focus is the account of Hannibal's campaign in Italy, Roman conquests on the Iberian Peninsula, and the course of the Second Macedonian War. In his exposition of historical events, Polybius includes an extremely interesting discussion of the Roman constitution (in Book 6), comparing it with older forms of constitutions from Greek states and seeing it as the foundation of Roman military successes, supplemented by a description of Roman warfare. Elsewhere (in Book 12), he addresses the methodology of historiography and debates with his predecessors and contemporaries about the way historical events are recorded. He emphasizes the necessity of viewing events in their interconnections and seeking their causes. This volume, like the previous two, was translated, with a preface, notes, and an index provided by Prof. PhDr. Pavel Oliva, DrSc.