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C O U R S E L E C T U R E How Ancient People Wrote about Their Place in History: Polybius and Daniel Notes taken on January 31, 2014 by Edward Tanguay |
strategies of talking about their place in history
often ancient histories gave reasons for the succession of empires
noted for his work: The Histories, which covered 264 BC to 146 BC
the rise of the Roman Republic to world power
separation of powers in government
a time of ethnic ferment
talks about a succession of empires
Lacadaemonians (Spartans)
Macedonians (Philip and Alexander the Great)
says nothing compares with Roman rule
describes Roman rule as an inevitability
was taken to Rome as a hostage of the Roman forces
he taught in elite Roman households, including that of Scipio the Younger, who captured Carthage in 146 BCE
Scipio the Younger (185–129 BC)
commanded at the final siege and destruction of Carthage in 146 BC
Polybius went with Scipio to North Africa to see the campaigns there
says the study of history is necessary for education in politics
saw the Romans subjecting "the whole inhabited world to their sole government" as a thing unique in history
teaches how Fortune, in the Roman period both a concept and a goddess, allowed the Roman Empire to succeed
set in Babylonia in sixth century BCE
story of Daniel, Jewish exile and prophet
thought through events of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Seleucid king who desecrated the temple in Jerusalem in 167 BCE.
attempted to Hellenize Jews to make them more Greek
Daniel's role as a prophet, as a great dream interpreter
in the day, dreams were treated as prophecy if it could be interpreted properly
huge statue before king
stone becomes a great mountain
not a great story for kings
kingdom of iron, and kingdom of iron and clay
King Nebuchadnezzar (634 BC - 562 BC)
created Neo-Babylonian Empire
created Hanging Gardens of Babylon
the story of the succession of empires focuses on the area of Judea, and long-time contested territory
long before Paul conceded to go up to Jerusalem to meet James and the other "pillars"
God's empire will end the succession of empires
both Daniel's history and Polybius' history talk about the reasons certain empires have come to power over others