Polybius' concept of pragmatike historia : constitution decline and the struggle for the Peloponnese
This thesis will contend that Polybius' stress on Achaean unity was related to his need to contrast how tyche and anacyclosis, the two vital supernatural forces that he believed influenced historical events, had influenced the Achaean system of polity detrimentally. Examining the rationale behind Aetolian intervention in the Peloponnese during the Hellenistic period, it will contend that the Aetolians and their allies in Elis and Sparta were engaged in a struggle for control over the Peloponnese against the Macedonians and their Arcadian allies, a situation the Romans exploited. During the Second Macedonian War Polybius presents the Achaean league and Rome acting as equals; this was related to his desire to show the eventual decline in Greece that allowed the Romans to gain control. In reality Flamininus exploited Megalopolitan fears over Aetolian and Spartan interests to ensure the Peloponnese remained stable during the Aetolian/Syrian War. Afterwards Polybius took the question of the Spartan exiles, a relatively unimportant question, and presented its resolution as the decisive turning point in the relationship between Rome and the Achaean league, Callicrates' speech in front of the senate marking the onset
Hunt, Paul Christopher
Polybius' concept of pragmatike historia : constitution decline and the struggle for the Peloponnese. This thesis will contend that Polybius' stress on Achaean unity was related to his need to contrast how tyche and anacyclosis, the two vital supernatural forces that he believed influenced historical events, had influenced the Achaean system of polity detrimentally. Examining the rationale behind Aetolian intervention in the Peloponnese during the Hellenistic period, it will contend that the Aetolians and their allies in Elis and Sparta were engaged in a struggle for control over the Peloponnese against the Macedonians and their Arcadian allies, a situation the Romans exploited. During the Second Macedonian War Polybius presents the Achaean league and Rome acting as equals; this was related to his desire to show the eventual decline in Greece that allowed the Romans to gain control. In reality Flamininus exploited Megalopolitan fears over Aetolian and Spartan interests to ensure the Peloponnese remained stable during the Aetolian/Syrian War. Afterwards Polybius took the question of the Spartan exiles, a relatively unimportant question, and presented its resolution as the decisive turning point in the relationship between Rome and the Achaean league, Callicrates' speech in front of the senate marking the onset
polybius concept historia constitution decline struggle peloponnese contend polybius stress unity relate need contrast vital supernatural force believe influenced historical_event influence system polity examining rationale behind intervention peloponnese hellenistic period contend ally sparta engage struggle control peloponnese ally situation romans exploit second macedonian war polybius present league rome equal relate desire show eventual decline greece allow romans gain control reality exploit fear spartan interest ensure peloponnese remain stable syrian war afterwards polybius take question spartan exile relatively question present resolution decisive turning point relationship rome league speech front senate marking onset