Histories

Books

• 1
  Book 1 264–241 BC

  Introduction. Polybius asks: how did Rome conquer the entire Mediterranean world in fifty-three years? He outlines his method and scope.

  945 lines
• 2
  Book 2 241–219 BC

  The First Punic War and its aftermath. Rome's first overseas conflict, fought at sea against Carthage for control of Sicily.

  725 lines
• 3
  Book 3 220–216 BC

  The Second Punic War begins. Hannibal's siege of Saguntum, his march across the Alps, and the opening campaigns in Italy.

  1214 lines
• 4
  Book 4 220–217 BC

  Hannibal in Italy. Lake Trasimene and the crisis of Roman confidence. Philip V of Macedon enters the picture.

  854 lines
• 5
  Book 5 220–216 BC

  The disaster at Cannae (216 BC). The worst defeat in Roman history. Polybius analyses the battle and Rome's extraordinary resilience in its aftermath.

  1131 lines
• 6
  Book 6 c. 216 BC

  Polybius' famous analysis of the Roman constitution. The mixed government of consuls (monarchy), Senate (aristocracy), and people (democracy). The key to Roman success.

  590 lines
• 7
  Book 7 215–211 BC

  Comparisons with other constitutions. Sparta, Carthage, Thebes, Crete. Why Rome's system is superior.

  157 lines
• 8
  Book 8 214–210 BC

  The war in Spain and Scipio's early campaigns. The Carthaginians' hold on Iberia begins to crumble.

  378 lines
• 9
  Book 9 212–208 BC

  Philip V of Macedon and the First Macedonian War. Events in Greece and the eastern Mediterranean.

  427 lines
• 10
  Book 10 210–205 BC

  Scipio takes New Carthage. The war in Spain turns decisively in Rome's favour. Hasdrubal prepares to march to Italy.

  503 lines
• 11
  Book 11 207–204 BC

  The battle of the Metaurus (207 BC). Hasdrubal is killed. Hannibal's last hope of reinforcement dies with him.

  320 lines
• 12
  Book 12 Methodology

  Polybius discusses the historian's method: autopsy, geography, and political experience. Theory without practice is worthless.

  411 lines
• 13
  Book 13 205–203 BC

  Fragmentary. Events in Greece and the eastern Mediterranean in the last years of the Hannibalic War.

  80 lines
• 14
  Book 14 203–201 BC

  Scipio invades Africa. Hannibal is recalled from Italy. The battle of Zama (202 BC) and the end of the Second Punic War.

  137 lines
• 15
  Book 15 201–200 BC

  The Second Macedonian War. Rome defeats Philip V at Cynoscephalae (197 BC). The 'liberation' of Greece begins.

  389 lines
• 16
  Book 16 201–198 BC

  Fragmentary. Events following the settlement of Greece and Philip's containment.

  358 lines
• 17
  Book 17 Lost 198–196 BC

  Fragmentary. Antiochus III and the war in Asia. Rome's power now extends east of the Aegean.

  No text survives for this book. It may have covered the conclusion of the Third Macedonian War.

  Excerpta Constantiniana (De Sententiis, De Legationibus); scattered quotations in Athenaeus and Strabo

• 18
  Book 18 196–194 BC

  The war with Antiochus III. The battle of Magnesia (190 BC). Rome becomes the dominant power in the eastern Mediterranean.

  551 lines
• 19
  Book 19 Fragmentary 193–191 BC

  Fragmentary. Events in the 180s BC. The decline of Macedonia and the Roman settlement of the east.

  Only two brief fragments survive.

  2 lines
• 20
  Book 20 191–189 BC

  Fragmentary. Events in the 170s BC, including the background to the Third Macedonian War.

  105 lines
• 21
  Book 21 189–187 BC

  The Achaean League and events in Greece. Polybius describes the political dynamics he knows from personal experience.

  485 lines
• 22
  Book 22 187–183 BC

  Fragmentary. Events leading to Perseus' war and the final Macedonian crisis.

  202 lines
• 23
  Book 23 183–179 BC

  Fragmentary. The Third Macedonian War. Perseus of Macedon challenges Rome for the last time.

  185 lines
• 24
  Book 24 179–176 BC

  Fragmentary. Events in Greece, Africa, and the east in the 160s BC.

  123 lines
• 25
  Book 25 Fragmentary 175–172 BC

  Fragmentary. Events in Spain and further fragments of the narrative.

  Heavily fragmentary — survives only in Byzantine excerpts.

  49 lines
• 26
  Book 26 Fragmentary 171–170 BC

  Fragmentary. Diplomatic exchanges and the Roman settlement of affairs.

  Only brief fragments survive in the Constantinian excerpts.

  16 lines
• 27
  Book 27 170–168 BC

  Fragmentary. Polybius accompanies Scipio Aemilianus. First-hand observation enters the narrative.

  148 lines
• 28
  Book 28 168–167 BC

  Fragmentary. Events in Carthage and the approach of the Third Punic War.

  185 lines
• 29
  Book 29 167–163 BC

  Fragmentary. The Achaean War and the Roman destruction of Corinth (146 BC). Polybius witnesses the end of Greek independence.

  189 lines
• 30
  Book 30 163–160 BC

  Fragmentary. Events in the 140s BC.

  276 lines
• 31
  Book 31 160–155 BC

  Fragmentary. Continuation of events in Spain and Africa.

  297 lines
• 32
  Book 32 155–151 BC

  Fragmentary. Further events and diplomatic history.

  126 lines
• 33
  Book 33 151–149 BC

  Fragmentary. Polybius' later observations on Roman expansion.

  120 lines
• 34
  Book 34 Geography

  Fragmentary. Further events and fragments.

  203 lines
• 35
  Book 35 Fragmentary 149–148 BC

  Fragmentary. Later observations and reflections.

  Very fragmentary — a handful of excerpts survive.

  50 lines
• 36
  Book 36 148–147 BC

  Fragmentary. Events in the 130s BC.

  137 lines
• 37
  Book 37 Fragmentary 147–146 BC

  Fragmentary. Further fragments from the late books.

  Only a single fragment survives.

  1 lines
• 38
  Book 38 146 BC

  Fragmentary. Events in the later second century BC.

  210 lines
• 39
  Book 39 146–145 BC

  Fragmentary. Polybius' final reflections on Rome's rise and the lessons of universal history.

  58 lines
• Book XL Lost 145 BC

  The final book of Polybius's great history, covering the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC and likely his own reflections on the meaning of Rome's universal dominion. A summing-up by the man who had witnessed Rome's rise at first hand.

  Almost entirely lost. Only brief excerpts survive. Polybius was present at the destruction of Carthage alongside Scipio Aemilianus.

  Brief excerpts in Excerpta Constantiniana; Appian; Strabo 8.6.23 (Polybius at the destruction of Carthage)