Analyzing Polybius's 'Flamininus'

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Polybius’ histories of Rome provide a detailed and mostly reliable account of Roman political and social history, from the years 264 BCE to 146 BCE. In sections 18.36-18.46, he focuses on the negotiations between the kingdom of Macedon and several Greek states, describing the difficulties of interstate politics and finding peace. He also emphasizes the importance of the Roman state in these negotiations, and he writes about how they attempted to keep the peace and bring joy to the Greek people. Describing Titus Quinctius Flamininus as chief negotiator, Polybius discusses the tactics he uses to persuade the Greeks and to keep Philip in check, and details the importance of his actions in Greece. Furthermore, through his detailed accounts, modern …show more content…

Flamininus changed the landscape of Greek society permanently, and in his article, Walsh discusses the impact his actions had, and how he was able to have such an influence. In his analysis of Polybius’ histories, Walsh focuses especially on the rhetorical and linguistic strategies Flamininus uses in the negotiations. His study of Flamininus’ tactics provides insight into the stylistic strategies used by Greek and Roman scholars, and he argues that Flamininus, while himself a Roman, learned his negotiation strategies from Greek society. He says “that Flamininus' understanding and implementation of liberation rhetoric was thoroughly Greek; that he acknowledged, at times to his frustration, the genuine obligations of a liberator” (Walsh 345). Flamininus’ cunning tactics and political eagerness mean that he is willing to learn from all sources, so even despite heavy ongoing negotiations, “his principal teacher, the inspiration for the language of the decree, was Philip” (Walsh …show more content…

Flamininus’ last act as negotiator in Greece was the Isthmian declaration, which declared that the Greek city-states would be forever free from Macedonian rule. Walsh describes how the declaration,“containing most of the chief elements of Eleutheria propaganda and declaring the Romans’ intention not to take Macedon’s place as overlord of Greece, was the culmination of Flamininus’ public relations campaign” (Walsh 358). Through the declaration, Flamininus was able to secure his position as the most powerful man in Greek politics, and he permanently embeds himself in the minds of the Greek people, allowing him to rely on them for support in future political endeavors. Walsh’s argument ends with the understanding that Flamininus’ deep understanding of Greek rhetoric and speech helped him negotiate successfully with various city states and Macedon, allowing him to grow his power and become a well-known figure throughout the Mediterranean. Polybius has long been regarded as one of Rome’s most reliable historians, and he writes these stories from a relatively unbiased perspective, without overblowing the greatness of

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