Why Begin With This Period of History
I thought this was the best point; first, because it is there
note
that Aratus leaves off, and I meant my work, as
far as it was Greek history, to be a continuation
of his; and, secondly, because the period thus
embraced in my history would fall partly in the
life of my father, and partly in my own; and
thus I should be able to speak as eye-witness
of some of the events, and from the information
of eye-witnesses of others. To go further back
and write the report of a report, traditions at
second or third hand, seemed to me unsatisfactory either with a view to giving clear impressions
or making sound statements. noteBut, above
all, I began at this period because it was then that the history
of the whole world entered on a new phase.
Demetrius, had just become the boy king
Achaeus, prince of Asia on this side of Taurus, had converted
his show of power into a reality; Antiochus the Great had, a
short time before, by the death of his brother Seleucus,
succeeded while quite a young man to the throne of Syria;
Ariarathes to that of Cappadocia; and Ptolemy Philopator to
that of Egypt. Not long afterwards Lycurgus became King of
Sparta, and the Carthaginians had recently elected Hannibal
general to carry on the war lately described. Every government therefore being changed about this time, there seemed
every likelihood of a new departure in policy: which is but
natural and usual, and in fact did at this time occur. For
the Romans and Carthaginians entered upon the war I have
described; Antiochus and Ptolemy on one for the possession
of Coele-Syria; and the Achaeans and Philip one against the
Aetolians and Lacedaemonians. The causes of this last war
must now be stated.
