Polybius and Roman Imperialism

by Donald Walter Baronowski

Overview

This study explores in depth the complex reaction of the Greek historian Polybius to the expansion of Roman power. Although he considered imperialism intrinsically noble, and both admired and supported Roman domination, Polybius also demonstrated a certain intellectual distance from Rome, evident in his application of abstract principles to the evaluation of Rome and other imperial powers, his acknowledgement of the aggressive drive underlying all imperial ventures, his willingness to criticize Rome, his concern for the interests of subject nations, the promotion of his own political views, and his willingness to contemplate the end of Roman power.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472504500
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/09/2013
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Donald Walter Baronowski is Lecturer in the Department of History and Classical Studies, McGill University, Canada.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

List of Abbreviations xiii

Introduction 1

Part I The Attitude of Intellectuals to Imperial Domination in the Hellenistic Period

1 Greek Philosophers and Roman Imperialism 17

2 Poets, Prophecies and Roman Imperialism 29

3 Historians and Roman Imperialism 43

Part II Polybius' Attitude to Roman Domination

4 Polybius on Legitimate Expansion 65

5 Polybius on the Acquisition, Expansion and Preservation of Imperial Rule 87

6 Polybius on the Enemies of Rome 114

7 Polybius in the Service of Rome 132

8 Polybius, Rome, Barbarism and Fate 149

9 Polybius on the Future of the Roman Empire 153

Conclusions 164

Notes 177

Bibliography 213

Index of Passages Cited 233

General Index 239