Polybius and the Legacy of Fourth-Century Historiography

An exam of some of Polybius’ crucial statements on the aims of history writing, on methodology of research, and on aetiology, suggests that Polybius’ views on history and historical methodology were mainly influenced by post-Thucydidean historians (Ephorus and Theopompus especially). The A. suggests that those very instances where Polybius seems to recall Thucydides are due to the mediation of fourth-century historians, confirming that the modern view that Greek historiography suffered a decline after Thucydides must be rejected.