The Histories of Polybius

Polybius, a historian from the Greek city of Megalopolis in Arcadia, was taken as a hostage to Rome after the Roman defeat of the Achaean League in Achaean War, and there he began to write an account of the rise of Rome to a world power.

He concludes that the success of the Roman state was based on their mixed constitution, which combined elements of a democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy.

Tyche, which means fate or fortune, plays an integral role in Polybius’ understanding of history.

The application of Greek political theory to Rome inspired figures like Montesquieu and John Adams.