Assignment for Monday, February 2:

Read: Polybius, selections from Books 9-11 (Penguin, pp 386-428)

NB: Polybius is something of a transitional figure in Greco-Roman historiography, both chronologically and culturally. He writes in Greek, but his subject is chiefly Roman; his viewpoint is Greek, but he spent time in Rome….enough to acquire something of a Roman viewpoint as well; and while he looks back to Thucydides (in particular) as model, he looks forward to increasing sophistication in historical writing. Generally agreed to be, in technical and modern terms, the ‘best’ of the ancient historians, he is perhaps the least read. If you know nothing about him, read Scott-Kilvert’s Introduction (useful not only to learn more about Pol. but also about the historical situation he describes).

One hr. or two-page paper: Discuss how Polybius’ attitude toward history (or his subject) is different from that of either Herodotus or Thucydides.

Things to think about:

• Try to identify instances in today’s reading where Polybius seems explicitly interested in making sure you ‘remember’ a particular event or person in a particular way – i.e., where he seems consciously to shape memory.

• Central to the narrative we’ll read are the characters of Hannibal and Scipio. How are they – in Polybius’ eyes – different? Similar?

• The battle question: consider Pol.’s account of the battle of Metaurus River in light of Hdt. on Marathon and Thuc. on Syracuse.