Ancient historiography and the consciousness of the historical investigation method: an interpretation of Polybius of Megalopolis’ Histories

Abstract

During the course of Modernity, history has developed into a discipline and gained the scientific status it holds today. This period has seen the rise of a hermeneutical issue: some historiographical standards were established and applied to History works to decide whether or not they could be classified as Historiography. This article approaches the theme from the perspective of the history of concepts (Begriffsgeschichte), analyzing the twelfth book of Polybius of Megalopolis – a rich historical source offering insight into how history was written in antiquity. Focusing on the historiographical genre of Polybius and its epistemology, this analysis corroborates the thesis that the modern classification of the History of Historiography contradicts the very notion of Historismus by judging works that do not belong to this time and space according to modern criteria. This represents a sort of anachronism, subjecting ancient historiography to the partiality of Western historiography.