The Rise of the Roman Empire (Penguin Classics)

For a basic history student, this is a great edition of Polybius's work. The translation is quite readable, and the material seems reasonably well selected. The work is also generally important for the study of ancient Rome. Of course folks should be aware that this is an abridged version, and that Polybius's works have survived only in part. However, unless you need an unabridged edition, this is worth getting and reading.

Polybius treatment of the encounter between the Roman Commander Regulus and the Spartan General Xanthippus (leading the Carthaginians), and the "lessons learned" from their encounter justifies buying this book. The rest is gravy.

It is true that this Penguin edition is an abridged work but it still has 541 pages. For example, selections from Book VI include "On the Forms of States" (Chapters3-10) and the famous "On the Roman Constitution at its Prime" (Chapters 11-19)-which discusses the great value of Rome's "mixed constitution" (separation of powers among three major power groups -- kinglike executive(consul), aristocracy (Senate), and the general mass of people voting in assembly ) This idea greatly influenced the American Founding Fathers and the design of the American Constitution.) It is rather hilarious to read Chapter II of Machiavelli's "The Discourses" and see how heavily he plagarized from Polybius's "On the Forms of States". However, some of Polybius's ideas had been discussed roughly 200 years earlier in Aristotle's "The Politics" (Book III) "The Roman Republic Compared with Others" (Chapter 43-56) is also an interesting discussion. Polybius notes that a socialistic government like Sparta's promotes internal harmony and civil discord which provides formidable defensive strength. However, Polybius explains how such a society does not have the economic foundations necessary to support a large empire--which accounted for Sparta's failure when it tried to expand. What is very eerie, however, is Polybius's opinion circa 120 BC that Rome and her Constitution might last for a long time --whereas in reality, Rome collapsed into civil war shortly thereafter and the Republic was replaced by the military dictatorships of Julius and Augustus Caesar about 70 years later. Polybius gave us a hint of why this occurred. Polybius noted that Rome's strength was the strong virtue of her citizens -- that it was rare to find a Roman official who would accept a bribe. That changed in the succeeding decades of course -- Sallust noted how corruption arose within the patricians and spread like wildfire throughout the Roman government in the period of 100-35 BC. One could argue that this was the root cause of the Republic's collapse -- Something for the US Congress to remember with it's bland acceptance of today's corrupt campaign finance system.The Penguin edition includes a useful INTRODUCTION written by FW Walbank in which he provides interesting background material on Polybius --section 11 of Walbank's Introduction has a rough outline of what's been included in the Abridgement. While an even fuller book would have been nice, maybe Walbank wanted us to buy his A Historical Commentary on Polybius :Commentary on Books Vii-XVIII -- by F. W. Walbank