Emotion and Historiography in Polybius’ Histories

This scholarly work examines how Polybius, the Greek historian who chronicled Rome's Mediterranean expansion, strategically employed emotional content within his historical narratives. Regina M. Loehr argues that emotions in the Histories are not merely rhetorical flourishes but function as effective historical forces, explaining the causes of pivotal actions and creating meaningful connections between events. The book delves into the methodology behind this ancient historiography, investigating why a historian would deliberately incorporate affective elements into his account of political and military conquest.

Loehr's analysis offers a fresh perspective for classicists and historians of the Hellenistic period, demonstrating how emotional undercurrents shaped Polybius's interpretation of Rome's rise to power. Readers interested in the philosophy of history will find a compelling case for emotion as a legitimate, driving component of historical causation, moving beyond purely political or strategic explanations. This focused study successfully recontextualizes a foundational historical text, revealing the sophisticated literary craft behind what might otherwise be read as a straightforward chronicle of events.