The Historical Writing And Identities Of Polybius

Polybius is a Greek historian with multiple identities.He wrote the history about why the Romans could rule the whole Mediterranean world in just 53 years.He showed the identity as a historian consciously in The Histories.The identities of non-historian also influenced his historical writing.They are all reflected in the text of The Histories.This dissertation mainly focuses on the influence of Polybius’ multiple identities on his historian’s identity and historical writing,explores how Polybius choose and balance his identities and positions during writing histories.Then it reflects Polybius’ statue and contribution of historical writing from the current perspective.The introduction introduces the background and the research status.It arranges the theoretical research about identity and historian personae,and examines the dissemination and research of Polybius and The Histories in different periods at home and abroad.Therefore,it sorts out and introduce the original documents and editions related to Polybius.The first chapter focus on the background and Polybius’ personal experience,sorting out his multiple identities and writing positions.The Achaean League was an important political entity in in the Peloponnesian Peninsula,but its strength is too weak to compete with the surrounding powerful states.Regarding to Roman’s intervention of the league,there were differences within the Achaean League and the policy was vacillating.As a result,the Romans turns to punish the Achaean after their victory over Macedonia.Polybius was sent to Rome as a hostage,but based on his reputation and friendship with the Roman nobles,he received special care.Polybius used to be the hipparchos of Achaean League and opposed the Romans.But his position and propositions gradually changed during his detention in Rome.Prior to this,cosmopolitanism and pan-Hellenisms emerged,and universal historical writing that broke the boundaries of states began to appear,which constituted the ideological background of Polybius.The second chapter discusses Polybius’ identity and self-reflection of historian.It first sorts out the several expressions of the concept of historian in The Histories,and analyzes and compares historian and author through the classification of words and context.After that,it discusses historians’ duty in Polybius’ opinion.Polybius believes that the historians including himself should write general and reality history.They should connect with practical activities,especially political activities closely,and write history to guide people’s political life.But Polybius failed to balance the relationship between truth and pragmatic.His historical writing also has difference with his understanding of the attributes and principles of historians.The third chapter discusses the way of Polybius as a defeated,which balances his dual position between Greece and Rome.Diodorus and other Greek writers ruled under the Romans faced similar emotional conflicts,but most of them never played a central role in political affairs,some even stayed away from politics and concentrated on writing and lectures.Polybius has a close relationship with the Roman nobles with their respect and protection.He cannot avoid the conflict of this position.Polybius recognized the inevitability and rationality of Romans’ rule of the world,and the Greeks should accept the rule of the Romans.Polybius began to reflect on the problems in Roman society from the perspective of the long-term development of the empire.At the same time,he still maintained Achaean League and his love of Greek culture.He tried to explore how the Greeks under Roman rule can better survive and develop.The fourth chapter explores the influence of Polybius’ identity as a stateman on his historical writing.The experience of Polybius allowed him to observe the constitution of states such as Greece and Rome up close.Polybius compared the pros and cons of different political systems with his observation and analysis.He attributed the success of Romans to their excellent constitution.His theory of politics was recognized by Roman readers,especially Roman nobles and politicians.At the same time,Polybius emphasized the practicality of history with the conscious and realistic considerations of a political leader.He believed that the purpose of historical writing was to provide reference and guidance for those engaged in political affairs.The fifth chapter explores the influence of Polybius’ identity as a military commander on his historical writing.Polybius used to be the hipparchos of Achaean League with a wealth of military experience and military theoretical knowledge.Combining his observation and knowledge accumulation,Polybius discussed the advantages of the Roman military through the analysis of the Roman army’s organizational structure,the construction of the camp,weapons and equipment,and the composition of the soldiers.He especially emphasized that it is Rome to rely on its own citizens instead of mercenaries.He also pointed out that through strict military discipline and commemorative activities,the Romans spread their spirit against the enemy from generation to generation,and cultivated outstanding Roman citizens and military generals,which was another important factor for the Romans to establish the empire of the world.It embodies his experience advantage as a military commander and the perspective of historical interpretation.The sixth chapter analyzes the historian Polybius place in history.Polybius inherited and developed the claims of truth-seeking and objectivity in the Greek historiography tradition,but his purpose was to explain rather than narrate.Polybius also learned and transformed the Greek universal historical writing.He advocated the use of a comprehensive method to write the history of oikoumenē,which should have a clear beginning and end,and all affairs should be centered on a core.Polybius emphasized the practical application of history,which was the important contribution on western historiography.It provided inspiration and reference for future Roman historians.The conclusion summarizes Polybius’ theoretical contribution to history,which mainly for his self-consciousness of the identity of historians.At the same time,Polybius’ various non-historical identities are also reflected in his historical writing,which is instructive for analyzing the influence of multiple identities on historians and their historical writing.