The Rise of the Roman Empire

Olympiads were four-year periods used in ancient Greek dating, beginning in 776 BCE. The four-year spans were correlated to the Olympic Games. Polybius’s work begins in the 140th Olympiad, between the years 220 and 216 BCE. At this time, the Second Punic Wars were beginning, and both Rome and the Achaean League were gaining power.

The Achaean League was a term given to a federal union of city-states in Greece during the 3rd century BCE. While each city acted independently, they shared military, currency, and foreign policies, acting as a united front. Polybius was born into a prominent Achaean family and was proud of his heritage. He championed the Achaean League above the neighboring Aetolian League, believing that the Achaeans had a stronger political structure.

Like the Achaean League, the Aetolian League was a union of city-states in central Greece. Unlike their neighbors who emphasized diplomacy, Polybius writes that the members of the Aetolian League were known for their military aggression and chaotic organization. During the First Macedonian War, the Aetolians united with Rome against Macedon. Polybius is critical of the Aetolian’s alliance with Rome, which he felt was opportunistic and contributed to Rome’s eventual domination over the Greek world.