"The Histories of Polybius, Vol. 1 (of 2)" by Polybius is a historical work originally written in 40 volumes during the 2nd century BC. A Greek historian held hostage in Rome, Polybius chronicles how Rome transformed from a single power into master of the Mediterranean world. Spanning 264 to 146 BC, the work examines the Punic Wars, analyzes the Roman constitution's mixed government, and explores the role of fortune in shaping history. Only the first five volumes survive complete today. (This is an automatically generated summary.)