The Histories of Polybius

Volume 1 of Shuckburgh's superb 1889 translation of Polybius' Histories contains Books 1 to 5, part of Book 6, and fragments of Books 7 to 9. Covering Greek and Egyptian society, the Punic Wars, Roman society and historical method, it remains a fascinating source on the second and third centuries BCE.

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The Histories of Greek-born, Roman historian Polybius (c.200–118 BCE) are reissued here in two volumes. Comprising the complete Books 1 to 5, the near complete Book 6, and fragments of Books 7 to 9, Volume 1 covers, inter alia, an assessment of Rome's enemies (notably Egypt and Greece), the beginnings of the First and Second Punic Wars, the battles of Ticinus and Trebia, the harmonious society of Rome, and a discussion of historical method that prioritises objectivity. Undertaken by the classicist Evelyn Shuckburgh (1843–1906), this first complete English translation (utilising F. Hultsch's 1867–72 Greek text) was published in 1889. A tutor, and later librarian, at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, Shuckburgh produced school editions of Sophocles and Suetonius as well as short histories on the classical world. This highly readable translation has remained a fascinating historical account of the second and third centuries BCE.