Lyt når som helst, hvor som helst

Nyd den ubegrænsede adgang til tusindvis af spændende e- og lydbøger - helt gratis

  • Lyt og læs så meget du har lyst til
  • Opdag et kæmpe bibliotek fyldt med fortællinger
  • Eksklusive titler + Mofibo Originals
  • Opsig når som helst
Prøv nu
DK - Details page - Device banner - 894x1036
Cover for The Histories
Varighed
37T 38M
Sprog
Engelsk
Format
Kategori

Historie

How did the city state of Rome rise inexorably to become the dominant power in the Mediterranean and much of the Western world?

In short, first of all it overcame the established Carthaginian Empire despite the remarkable exploits of Hannibal. And, largely at the same time, it gradually subjugated the many and varied city states of Greece, despite various allied opposition.

The rise of Rome is one of the great stories of world history, and fortunately, we have a reliable and at times an eyewitness account, from the Greek historian Polybius of Megalopolis (c200 BCE-c117 BCE). In The Histories, Polybius set out to present as full an account as he could, with the historical background, the causes of disagreement leading to conflict, the main naval and land battles and the acts of heroism, cowardice, imagination and folly.

In addition, he provided lucid explanations of the diplomacy, the treaties and portraits of the main personalities. He encompassed the whole story in 40 books, a considerable undertaking. He started his tale in 264 BCE as Rome challenged Carthage and concluded with the capture of Corinth in 146 BCE. It is a century (and more) of almost continuous conflict in one field or another. These were brutal times of torture, slaughter, enslavement, where power was wielded for dominance, but there were examples of honourable engagement and considered diplomacy. Extended periods of warfare brought new military ideas and tactics, as Rome learned to combat Carthaginian expertise on sea and on land. Siege machinery was developed on both sides (the skills of Archimedes in the defence of Syracuse is mentioned) and the famous Greek phalanx was pitted against the Roman legions.

Polybius reports on the main confrontations with the authority of a man who was present at many events and also visited historic sites of importance to ensure his accounts of the past were accurate. In The Histories, he gives rounded portraits of the important figures of Hannibal and other Carthaginian generals: of Scipio Africanus (who finally stopped Hannibal at the Battle of Zama) and other Roman general, of Philip V of Macedon, of Antiochus the Great, ruler of the Seleucid Empire and of the Ptolemies of Egypt.

The rise of Rome is a story of two main arenas - the West (Carthage, Spain, Northern Italy and Illyria) and the East - Greece! In trying to maintain some kind of chronological flow, Polybius has little option but to switch the focus from one to another, sometimes at short notice! This problem is exacerbated by the fact that The Histories has survived only in part.

The first five books exist in full. Most of book six, with its important review of the Roman constitution and military system, has also survived. Of the rest we have fragments of varying lengths (though nothing for books 17, 19, 37, 40). This makes for some challenging moments as ‘chapters’ can switch from one focus to another at a swift pace, especially with the way the vivid reports and analysis from Polybius maintain the thrust of the narrative.

Ukemi Audiobooks here presents, for the first time on audio, the unabridged Polybius - everything that has survived - in the excellent translation by W. R. Paton. There is additional material too. It opens with 'The Life of Polybius' by H. J. Edwards. And it closes with the classic survey of Polybius and his work by Evelyn S. Shuckburgh, which includes 'The Sources of Polybius’ History' and an overview of 'The Achaean League' which played a key role in events in Greece. The whole production is supported by an extensive PDF, with key dates, personalities and events in order. There are also maps, which give visual clarity to the challenging geographical progress of Rome as it moved inexorably towards Empire. The Histories is read with engaging authority by Jonathan Booth.

© 2021 Ukemi Audiobooks from W. F. Howes Ltd (Lydbog): 9781004134632

Udgivelsesdato

Lydbog: 5. oktober 2021

Andre kan også lide...

  1. The Principal Speeches of Demosthenes: A Selection
    The Principal Speeches of Demosthenes: A Selection Demosthenes
  2. Odyssey of the West II: A Classic Education through the Great Books: From Athens to Rome and the Gospels
    Odyssey of the West II: A Classic Education through the Great Books: From Athens to Rome and the Gospels Timothy B. Shutt
  3. The Antiquities of the Jews
    The Antiquities of the Jews Flavius Josephus
  4. A Noble Ruin: Mark Antony, Civil War, and the Collapse of the Roman Republic
    A Noble Ruin: Mark Antony, Civil War, and the Collapse of the Roman Republic W. Jeffrey Tatum
  5. The Making of Modern India: The History of India from the Middle Ages to Independence from Britain
    The Making of Modern India: The History of India from the Middle Ages to Independence from Britain Charles River Editors
  6. The Lost World of Byzantium
    The Lost World of Byzantium Jonathan Harris
  7. Odyssey of the West I - A Classic Education through the Great Books: Hebrews and Greeks: A Classic Education through the Great Books:Hebrews and Greeks
    Odyssey of the West I - A Classic Education through the Great Books: Hebrews and Greeks: A Classic Education through the Great Books:Hebrews and Greeks Timothy B. Shutt
  8. The History of the Peloponnesian War
    The History of the Peloponnesian War Thucydides
  9. The Acropolis and the Agora: The History of Ancient Athens’ Most Important Sites
    The Acropolis and the Agora: The History of Ancient Athens’ Most Important Sites Charles River Editors
  10. The History of the Peloponnesian War
    The History of the Peloponnesian War Thucydides
  11. The Life of Publicola
    The Life of Publicola Plutarch
  12. The History and Legacy of Ancient Greece’s Most Influential City-States
    The History and Legacy of Ancient Greece’s Most Influential City-States Charles River Editors
  13. Ideological Fixation: From the Stone Age to Today's Culture Wars
    Ideological Fixation: From the Stone Age to Today's Culture Wars Azar Gat
  14. What the Greeks Did for Us
    What the Greeks Did for Us Tony Spawforth
  15. China and Russia: Four Centuries of Conflict and Concord
    China and Russia: Four Centuries of Conflict and Concord Philip Snow
  16. World of Our Fathers: The Journey of the East European Jews to America and the Life They Found and Made
    World of Our Fathers: The Journey of the East European Jews to America and the Life They Found and Made Irving Howe
  17. The Victorians: A Very Short Introduction
    The Victorians: A Very Short Introduction Martin Hewitt
  18. Bohemians: A Very Short Introduction
    Bohemians: A Very Short Introduction David Weir
  19. Mussolini's Intellectuals: Fascist Social and Political Thought
    Mussolini's Intellectuals: Fascist Social and Political Thought A. James Gregor
  20. This Long Pursuit: Reflections of a Romantic Biographer
    This Long Pursuit: Reflections of a Romantic Biographer Richard Holmes
  21. On the Ends of Good and Evil
    On the Ends of Good and Evil Marcus Tulius Cicero
  22. Odyssey of the West III: A Classic Education through the Great Books: The Medieval World
    Odyssey of the West III: A Classic Education through the Great Books: The Medieval World Timothy B. Shutt
  23. The Stripping of the Altars: Traditional Religion in England, 1400-1580
    The Stripping of the Altars: Traditional Religion in England, 1400-1580 Eamon Duffy
  24. The Courtier and the Heretic: Leibniz, Spinoza, and the Fate of God in the Modern World
    The Courtier and the Heretic: Leibniz, Spinoza, and the Fate of God in the Modern World Matthew Stewart
  25. The Bible and the Roots of Western Literature
    The Bible and the Roots of Western Literature Monica Brzezinski Potkay
  26. The Dissolution of the Monasteries: A New History
    The Dissolution of the Monasteries: A New History James G. Clark
  27. A Short History of Christian Zionism: From the Reformation to the Twenty-First Century
    A Short History of Christian Zionism: From the Reformation to the Twenty-First Century Donald M. Lewis
  28. The Socratic Dialogues: Middle Period: Volume 2: Phaedrus, Cratylus, Parmenides
    The Socratic Dialogues: Middle Period: Volume 2: Phaedrus, Cratylus, Parmenides Plato
  29. Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus King
    Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus King Thomas J. Balcerski
  30. The Unelected: How an Unaccountable Elite is Governing America
    The Unelected: How an Unaccountable Elite is Governing America James R Copland
  31. The Ecclesiastical History of the English People
    The Ecclesiastical History of the English People The Venerable Bede
  32. The Catholic Church in the Modern Age
    The Catholic Church in the Modern Age Thomas F. Madden
  33. The Gifted Generation: When Government Was Good
    The Gifted Generation: When Government Was Good David Goldfield
  34. The History of England Volume 2: King Henry III to King Richard III
    The History of England Volume 2: King Henry III to King Richard III David Hume
  35. Apology and Memorabilia
    Apology and Memorabilia Name Xenophon
  36. The Science of Rights
    The Science of Rights Johann Gottleib Fitche
  37. The End of Christendom
    The End of Christendom Malcolm Muggeridge
  38. Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther
    Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther Roland H. Bainton
  39. Fourteenth Colony: The Forgotten Story of the Gulf South During America's Revolutionary Era
    Fourteenth Colony: The Forgotten Story of the Gulf South During America's Revolutionary Era Mike Bunn
  40. The Chevron Doctrine: Its Rise and Fall, and the Future of the Administrative State
    The Chevron Doctrine: Its Rise and Fall, and the Future of the Administrative State Thomas W. Merrill
  41. The Southern Way of Life: Meanings of Culture and Civilization in the American South
    The Southern Way of Life: Meanings of Culture and Civilization in the American South Charles Reagan Wilson
  42. Rhetoric and Poetics
    Rhetoric and Poetics Aristotle
  43. From Plato to Christ: How Platonic Thought Shaped the Christian Faith
    From Plato to Christ: How Platonic Thought Shaped the Christian Faith Louis Markos
  44. Capital: Volume 3: A Critique of Political Economy
    Capital: Volume 3: A Critique of Political Economy Karl Marx
  45. Henry Clay: The Man Who Would Be President
    Henry Clay: The Man Who Would Be President James C. Klotter

Vælg dit abonnement

  • Over 600.000 titler

  • Download og nyd titler offline

  • Eksklusive titler + Mofibo Originals

  • Børnevenligt miljø (Kids Mode)

  • Det er nemt at opsige når som helst

Den mest populære

Premium

For dig som lytter og læser ofte.

129 kr. /måned
  • 1 konto

  • 100 timer/måned

  • Eksklusivt indhold hver uge

  • Fri lytning til podcasts

  • Ingen binding

Start tilbuddet

Unlimited

For dig som lytter og læser ubegrænset.

149 kr. /måned
  • 1 konto

  • Ubegrænset adgang

  • Eksklusivt indhold hver uge

  • Fri lytning til podcasts

  • Ingen binding

Start tilbuddet

Family

For dig som ønsker at dele historier med familien.

Fra 179 kr. /måned
  • 2-6 konti

  • 100 timer/måned pr. konto

  • Fri lytning til podcasts

  • Kun 39 kr. pr. ekstra konto

  • Ingen binding

2 konti

179 kr. /måned
Start tilbuddet

Flex

For dig som vil prøve Mofibo.

89 kr. /måned
  • 1 konto

  • 20 timer/måned

  • Gem op til 100 ubrugte timer

  • Eksklusivt indhold hver uge

  • Fri lytning til podcasts

  • Ingen binding

Prøv gratis