SOURCE: "Polybius's Reappearance in Western Europe," in Essays in Ancient and Modern Historiography, Wesleyan University Press, 1977, pp. 79-98.

An Italian scholar, Momigliano (1908-1987) was widely known as one of the most learned historians of his time. In the following excerpt from a lecture originally delivered in 1973, he traces the rediscovery of Polybius 's writings in Western Europe during the Renaissance and discusses his significance for the development of Western historical, political, and military theory.

I

Polybius arrived twice in Italy, the first time in 167 B.C., the second time at an uncertain date about A.D. 1415. In both cases he had some difficulty in establishing his credentials. He was born too late to be a classic, too early to be a classicist. Furthermore, he had committed the unpardonable sin of having underrated Sparta and Athens, the two pillars of classicism. There was also the suspicion, never definitely dispelled...