The Rise of the Roman Empire

What are the qualities of a good leader, according to Polybius? How do these compare to the qualities of a poor leader? What lessons can contemporary leaders take from Polybius’s work?

What role did fortune play in Rome’s success? How does The Rise of the Roman Empire explore the tensions between fate and agency in political affairs?

Polybius argues that history follows cyclical patterns. How does this idea relate to the concept of the rise and fall of civilizations in history? How does this compare to a more linear, progressive view of history? What are the strengths and limitations of each approach?