Rome, the first world empire built in human history! Through the rise and fall of a millennium of ancient empires that spanned time and space, this book examines the fundamental coordinates of modern people living in the 20th century.

The Romans themselves admit that they are inferior to the Greeks in intelligence, inferior to the Celts and Germans in physical strength, inferior to the Celts and Germans in physical strength, inferior to the Etruscans in technological prowess, and inferior to the Carthaginians in economic power.

--- p.11

By tracing how the war was waged and how the aftermath was handled, we can learn about the character of the people who fought the war.
The reason why there are so many depictions of war in historical writing is not because humanity is still stuck in the evil of war, but because war is a good subject for historical writing, or in other words, for human writing.
By tracing how the war was waged and how the aftermath was handled, we can learn about the character of the people who fought the war.
The reason why there are so many depictions of war in historical writing is not because humanity is still stuck in the evil of war, but because war is a good subject for historical writing, or in other words, for human writing.

--- p.125

Although they were called hostages, the respect for Greek culture was so high among the Romans at the time that the Greeks were neither imprisoned nor held in groups in one place.
The thousand Greeks were each entrusted to the care of the potentates of the various cities and villages of the Roman Republic.
Moreover, there was freedom to travel anywhere outside Greece.

Compared to other people, Polybius was lucky.
Polybius, who served as a cavalry commander in the Achaean League, which was also the last attempt to preserve Greek independence, was a close friend of the Roman general Scipio Aemilianus since their time in Greece.
So, thanks to Scipio's efforts, the hostage Polybius was handed over to Scipio in Rome.

Scipio Aemilianus was the nephew and grandson of Scipio Africanus, the general who defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama and led the Second Punic War to victory for Rome.
He was about eighteen years younger than Polybius, so he was a young man at the time.


***From the prologue...
Although they were called hostages, the respect for Greek culture was so high among the Romans at the time that the Greeks were neither imprisoned nor held in groups in one place.
The thousand Greeks were each entrusted to the care of the potentates of the various cities and villages of the Roman Republic.
Moreover, there was freedom to travel anywhere outside Greece.

Compared to other people, Polybius was lucky.
Polybius, who served as a cavalry commander in the Achaean League, which was also the last attempt to preserve Greek independence, was a close friend of the Roman general Scipio Aemilianus since their time in Greece.
So, thanks to Scipio's efforts, the hostage Polybius was handed over to Scipio in Rome.

Scipio Aemilianus was the nephew and grandson of Scipio Africanus, the general who defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama and led the Second Punic War to victory for Rome.
He was about eighteen years younger than Polybius, so he was a young man at the time.


***From the prologue...

--- p.4

'There are not many people in the human world who can foresee the distant future from the beginning, establish a hundred-year plan based on that, and put that plan into action.
'He is a genius because he writes.' 'There are not many people in the human world who can foresee the distant future from the beginning, make a hundred-year plan based on that, and put that plan into action.
'He's a genius because he writes little.'

--- p.216

When we face trials, we do not approach them as a predetermined outcome of inhumane, rigorous training.
We face trials with determination based on our individual abilities.
The courage we display is not something that is bound by custom or prescribed by law, but rather comes from the principles of conduct that each Athenian poet adheres to in his or her daily life (omitted).

We love beauty in simplicity, and respect the earth without indulgence.
We pursue wealth, but this is to maintain possibility, not to foolishly flaunt it.
Also, although I do not feel ashamed to admit my poverty, I am deeply ashamed to neglect my efforts to overcome it.
We respect private interests, but only to the extent that we are concerned with the public interest.
When we face trials, we do not approach them as a predetermined outcome of inhumane, rigorous training.
We face trials with determination based on our individual abilities.
The courage we display is not something that is bound by custom or prescribed by law, but rather something that arises from the principles of conduct that each Athenian poet adheres to in his or her daily life (omitted).

We love beauty in simplicity, and respect the earth without indulgence.
We pursue wealth, but this is to maintain possibility, not to foolishly flaunt it.
Also, although I do not feel ashamed to admit my poverty, I am deeply ashamed to neglect my efforts to overcome it.
We respect private interests, but only to the extent that we are concerned with the public interest.

--- p.143-144

For Alexander, losing the battle could only lead to losing the war.
On the other hand, the Roman military tradition was characterized by the fact that defeat in battle did not lead to defeat in the war.
For Alexander, losing the battle could only lead to losing the war.
On the other hand, the Roman military tradition was characterized by the fact that defeat in battle did not lead to defeat in the war.

--- p.236

People often say:
The Romans were able to build a great empire and maintain its vast glory for so long thanks to their military power.
Is that really true?
People also say this:
The reason the Romans eventually went down the path of decline was because of the arrogance that nations that seize hegemony often fall into.
Is that really true?
I don't want to rush to answer these questions.
History is the result of the accumulated efforts of countless people.
It would be rude to give a light answer to that question, and I don't know the answer myself yet.
As the historical facts are described, I will think about them, and I hope you will think about them as well.
'Why could only the Romans do that?'
People often say:
The Romans were able to build a great empire and maintain its vast glory for so long thanks to their military power.
Is that really true?
People also say this:
The reason the Romans eventually went down the path of decline was because of the arrogance that nations that seize hegemony often fall into.
Is that really true?
I don't want to rush to answer these questions.
History is the result of the accumulated efforts of countless people.
It would be rude to give a light answer to that question, and I don't know the answer myself yet.
As the historical facts are described, I will think about them, and I hope you will think about them as well.
'Why could only the Romans do that?'

--- p.11

Roads are inevitably a double-edged sword.
This is because the ease of communication and movement of friendly forces means that the ease of gathering information and movement of enemy forces also becomes easier.
In fact, a few decades later, Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, and a hundred years later, Hannibal of Carthage, invaded Rome along the roads built by the Romans, leaving the Romans in disarray.

That is why a nation that prioritizes defense over all else is not enthusiastic about building smooth, convenient roads, regardless of whether or not it possesses road construction technology.
As you follow the Appian Way, which stretches straight to the horizon, you feel as if you are seeing a specimen of the extroversion of the ancient Romans.
But on the other hand, I also think that because they had created such a convenient route for their enemies, the Romans were destined to continue the war forever.
Roads are inevitably a double-edged sword.
This is because the ease of communication and movement of friendly forces means that the ease of gathering information and movement of enemy forces also becomes easier.
In fact, a few decades later, Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, and a hundred years later, Hannibal of Carthage invaded Rome along the roads built by the Romans, leaving the Romans in disarray.

That is why a nation that prioritizes defense over all else is not enthusiastic about building smooth, convenient roads, regardless of whether or not it possesses road construction technology.
As you follow the Appian Way, which stretches straight to the horizon, you feel as if you are seeing a specimen of the extroversion of the ancient Romans.
But on the other hand, I also think that because they had created such a convenient route for their enemies, the Romans were destined to continue the war forever.

--- p.224

Numa established an organization of priests to serve the gods who protected the Roman people.
Even if an ominous divination appeared before the start of a battle, it was deemed ineffective for those who had not seen it directly, so the priest could just close his eyes.
Also, since it was the priests' job to judge good or bad fortune, good or bad fortune was determined by how they interpreted the divination.
It was a piece of cake to get the bird to give the horoscope that the corps commander wanted.
In short, if the soldiers believe it is a good omen, that's it.
The superiors have always been awake.
Numa established an organization of priests to serve the gods who protected the Roman people.
Even if an ominous divination appeared before the start of a battle, it was deemed ineffective for those who had not seen it directly, so the priest could just close his eyes.
Also, since it was the priests' job to judge good or bad fortune, good or bad fortune was determined by how they interpreted the divination.
It was a piece of cake to get the bird to give the horoscope that the corps commander wanted.
In short, if the soldiers believe it is a good omen, that's it.
The superiors have always been awake.

--- p.49

In 167 BC, a thousand hostages were brought to Rome from declining Greece.
In Greece, everyone was just a show-off.
Among them was Polybius, who was thirty-six years old.
Although they were called hostages, the respect for Greek culture was so high among the Romans at the time that the Greeks were neither imprisoned nor held in groups in one place.


The thousand Greeks were each entrusted to the care of the potentates of the various cities and villages of the Roman Republic.
Moreover, there was freedom to travel anywhere outside Greece.
Compared to other people, Polybius was lucky.
Polybius, who served as a cavalry commander in the Achaean League, which was also the last attempt to preserve Greek independence, was a close friend of the Roman general Scipio Aemilianus since their time in Greece.
So, thanks to Scipio's efforts, the hostage Polybius was handed over to Scipio in Rome.

Scipio Aemilianus was the nephew and grandson of Scipio Africanus, the general who defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama and led the Second Punic War to victory for Rome.
He was about eighteen years younger than Polybius, so he was a young man at the time.


However, as expected from a son of the Scipio family, a prestigious Roman noble family, he had a dazzling career in the military.
He also had an open mind, and, like his father, loved Greek culture, and the cultured people who gathered at his mansion were widely known in Rome as the 'Circle of Scipio'.


It is not difficult to imagine that Polybius, born into a prominent Greek family, highly educated, and having held responsible positions and gained extensive experience in real life, would be readily accepted into this circle.
Polybius was still too young to quietly spend the rest of his life lamenting the decline of his country.
In 167 BC, a thousand hostages were brought to Rome from declining Greece.
In Greece, everyone was just a show-off.
Among them was Polybius, who was thirty-six years old.
Although they were called hostages, the respect for Greek culture was so high among the Romans at the time that the Greeks were neither imprisoned nor held in groups in one place.


The thousand Greeks were each entrusted to the care of the potentates of the various cities and villages of the Roman Republic.
Moreover, there was freedom to travel anywhere outside Greece.
Compared to other people, Polybius was lucky.
Polybius, who served as a cavalry commander in the Achaean League, which was also the last attempt to preserve Greek independence, was a close friend of the Roman general Scipio Aemilianus since their time in Greece.
So, thanks to Scipio's efforts, the hostage Polybius was handed over to Scipio in Rome.

Scipio Aemilianus was the nephew and grandson of Scipio Africanus, the general who defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama and led the Second Punic War to victory for Rome.
He was about eighteen years younger than Polybius, so he was a young man at the time.


However, as expected from a son of the Scipio family, a prestigious Roman noble family, he had a dazzling career in the military.
He also had an open mind, and, like his father, loved Greek culture, and the cultured people who gathered at his mansion were widely known in Rome as the 'Circle of Scipio'.


It is not difficult to imagine that Polybius, born into a prominent Greek family, highly educated, and having held responsible positions and gained extensive experience in real life, would be readily accepted into this circle.
Polybius was still too young to quietly spend the rest of his life lamenting the decline of his country.

--- p.