Chapter 6: Roman Expansionism
Reading 6a: Polybius: The Roman Cons6tu6on
• Polybius- Greek historian; ~200-118 B.C.; So, wrote of 2nd century B.C.
◦ Witnessed and documented the expansion of Rome into a great
Mediterranean power
◦ Lived during and witnessed the destrucMon of both Carthage and
Corinth by Rome in 146 B.C.
• Carthage is modern day Tunisia; Rome's old rival; Founded
by Phoenicians; Large into trade
◦ Lived in Rome for 16 years as one of 1000 Greek hostages brought
to Rome in 170 B.C. to ensure good behaviour of the kingdom and
leagues of Greece
• A common Roman pracMce
▪ Romans oVen took children
• AVer he led the Macedonians to fight against the Romans
• Came to appreciate Roman poliMcal and social insMtuMons
▪ Befriended many poliMcal and military elite
(especially the Skippios) allowing him to accompany
them in military campaigns
◦ In the Histories, he outlines part of the history of Rome and
explains its organizaMon
◦ Consulted official documents and wri^en memoirs and drew on
his own first-hand accounts of some events as well as reports of
others
• I.e. Very trustworthy and clear-cut
◦ Did more than catalog facts of the Republic but, a^empted to
understand and explain the causes of events and to discover their
interrelaMon
• I.e. Wants to explain how the Romans conquered the
"whole world" (i.e. the Mediterranean) in ~53 years (on the
basis of specific poliMcal insMtuMons)
• Recognized the shiV in power and wanted to document it
, • A didacMc work
▪ WriMng for the Greeks
• Compares consuls, senates and the people to
monarchs, oligarchs and democrats to make it
more understandable
◦ Due to his Greek heritage and educaMon, he perceived the Roman
consMtuMon in terms of Greek ideas and expectaMons
◦ Saw that three features of government (monarchy, oligarchy and
democracy) were all present in the Roman system
Polybius, Histories, Book 6
On the Forms of States
• Lycurgus, of Sparta, was the first to draw up a consMtuMon that
combined the three varieMes of government
On the Roan Cons6tu6on at its Prime
• Polybius is explaining the consMtuMon of Rome during its defeat at
Cannae
• The design of the consMtuMon and its implementaMon showed such
fairness and propriety in its use of the three elements that it was
impossible for a naMve Roman to decide whether the system was
democraMc (due to the power of the masses), aristocraMc (due to the
power of the senate) or monarchial (due to the power of the consuls)
• The Consuls- Before leading out the legions, they stay in Rome and
exercise authority over all public administraMon; All other magistrates
(except tribunes) are under their control
◦ Introduce embassies to the senate
◦ Consult the senate on ma^ers of importance
◦ See that senatorial decrees are carried out
◦ Summon the assemblies, introduce the proposals and oversee the
implementaMon of decisions for those ma^ers that require
authorizaMon of the people
◦ Nearly unlimited control over the army (i.e. imperium)
• Decide what resources to demand from the allies
Reading 6a: Polybius: The Roman Cons6tu6on
• Polybius- Greek historian; ~200-118 B.C.; So, wrote of 2nd century B.C.
◦ Witnessed and documented the expansion of Rome into a great
Mediterranean power
◦ Lived during and witnessed the destrucMon of both Carthage and
Corinth by Rome in 146 B.C.
• Carthage is modern day Tunisia; Rome's old rival; Founded
by Phoenicians; Large into trade
◦ Lived in Rome for 16 years as one of 1000 Greek hostages brought
to Rome in 170 B.C. to ensure good behaviour of the kingdom and
leagues of Greece
• A common Roman pracMce
▪ Romans oVen took children
• AVer he led the Macedonians to fight against the Romans
• Came to appreciate Roman poliMcal and social insMtuMons
▪ Befriended many poliMcal and military elite
(especially the Skippios) allowing him to accompany
them in military campaigns
◦ In the Histories, he outlines part of the history of Rome and
explains its organizaMon
◦ Consulted official documents and wri^en memoirs and drew on
his own first-hand accounts of some events as well as reports of
others
• I.e. Very trustworthy and clear-cut
◦ Did more than catalog facts of the Republic but, a^empted to
understand and explain the causes of events and to discover their
interrelaMon
• I.e. Wants to explain how the Romans conquered the
"whole world" (i.e. the Mediterranean) in ~53 years (on the
basis of specific poliMcal insMtuMons)
• Recognized the shiV in power and wanted to document it
, • A didacMc work
▪ WriMng for the Greeks
• Compares consuls, senates and the people to
monarchs, oligarchs and democrats to make it
more understandable
◦ Due to his Greek heritage and educaMon, he perceived the Roman
consMtuMon in terms of Greek ideas and expectaMons
◦ Saw that three features of government (monarchy, oligarchy and
democracy) were all present in the Roman system
Polybius, Histories, Book 6
On the Forms of States
• Lycurgus, of Sparta, was the first to draw up a consMtuMon that
combined the three varieMes of government
On the Roan Cons6tu6on at its Prime
• Polybius is explaining the consMtuMon of Rome during its defeat at
Cannae
• The design of the consMtuMon and its implementaMon showed such
fairness and propriety in its use of the three elements that it was
impossible for a naMve Roman to decide whether the system was
democraMc (due to the power of the masses), aristocraMc (due to the
power of the senate) or monarchial (due to the power of the consuls)
• The Consuls- Before leading out the legions, they stay in Rome and
exercise authority over all public administraMon; All other magistrates
(except tribunes) are under their control
◦ Introduce embassies to the senate
◦ Consult the senate on ma^ers of importance
◦ See that senatorial decrees are carried out
◦ Summon the assemblies, introduce the proposals and oversee the
implementaMon of decisions for those ma^ers that require
authorizaMon of the people
◦ Nearly unlimited control over the army (i.e. imperium)
• Decide what resources to demand from the allies
