<w lemma="%2Akata%5C">Κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%5C">Ἀχαιοὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllois">ἄλλοις</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxois">συμμάχοις</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstanto">συνίσταντο</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%5Cs">Αἰτωλοὺς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuqe%2Fnta">προσαγορευθέντα</w> <w lemma="summaxiko%2Fn">συμμαχικόν</w>.
<w lemma="h%28mei%3Ds">ἡμεῖς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fs">τάς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fan">Σικελίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="diecio%2Fntes">διεξιόντες</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%5Cs">συνεχὲς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="prokataskeuh%3Ds">προκατασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fkomen">ἥκομεν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="summaxikou%3D">συμμαχικοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="deute%2Frou">δευτέρου</w> <w lemma="susta%2Fntos">συστάντος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w>, <w lemma="prosagoreuqe%2Fntos">προσαγορευθέντος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstois">πλείστοις</w> <w lemma="%2A%29annibiakou%3D">Ἀννιβιακοῦ</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqesin">πρόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29phggeila%2Fmeqa">ἐπηγγειλάμεθα</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28autw%3Dn">ἑαυτῶν</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcews">συντάξεως</w>,
<w lemma="pre%2Fpon">πρέπον</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="a%29feme%2Fnous">ἀφεμένους</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fda">Ἑλλάδα</w> <w lemma="metabai%2Fnein">μεταβαίνειν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="pantaxo%2Fqen">πανταχόθεν</w> <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fan">ὁμοίαν</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenoi">ποιησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prokataskeuh%5Cn">προκατασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> [<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w>] <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29podeiktikh%3Ds">ἀποδεικτικῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="a%29rxw%2Fmeqa">ἀρχώμεθα</w>.
<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhnika%5Cs">Ἑλληνικὰς</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="%2Apersika%2Fs">Περσικάς</w>, <w lemma="o%28mou%3D">ὁμοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="gnwrizome%2Fnois">γνωριζομένοις</w> <w lemma="me%2Fresi">μέρεσι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w> <w lemma="a%29nagra%2Ffein">ἀναγράφειν</w> <w lemma="e%29pikexeirh%2Fkamen">ἐπικεχειρήκαμεν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28poqe%2Fsews">ὑποθέσεως</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdio%2Fn">ἴδιόν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="sumbeblh%3Dsqai">συμβεβλῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="kairou%2Fs">καιρούς</w>, <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="safe%2Fsteron">σαφέστερον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%28te%2Frois">ἑτέροις</w> <w lemma="dhlw%2Fsomen">δηλώσομεν</w>,
<w lemma="de%2Fon">δέον</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%3Ds">κατασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanesta%2Ftwn">ἐπιφανεστάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gnwrizome%2Fnwn">γνωριζομένων</w> <w lemma="e%29qnw%3Dn">ἐθνῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="e%29fa%2Fyasqai">ἐφάψασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w>.
<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29%2Fgupton">Αἴγυπτον</w> <w lemma="a%29rkou%2Fntws">ἀρκούντως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxoi">ἔχοι</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fmnhsin">ἀνάμνησιν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="r%28hqe%2Fntwn">ῥηθέντων</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w> <w lemma="e%29kdedo%2Fsqai">ἐκδεδόσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Frimon">γνώριμον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpasin">ἅπασιν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29chllagme%2Fnon">ἐξηλλαγμένον</w> <w lemma="a%29phnth%3Dsqai">ἀπηντῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="para%2Flogon">παράλογον</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="prosdei%3Dsqai">προσδεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnh%2Fsews">ὑπομνήσεως</w>.
<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqnous">ἔθνους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fas">οἰκίας</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fsei">ἁρμόσει</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="braxe%2Fwn">βραχέων</w> <w lemma="a%29nadramei%3Dn">ἀναδραμεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w>, <w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerh%5Cs">ὁλοσχερὴς</w> <w lemma="e%29panai%2Fresis">ἐπαναίρεσις</w>,
<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiou%2Fs">Ἀχαιούς</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnw">ἐπάνω</w> <w lemma="proei%3Dpon">προεῖπον</w>, <w lemma="para%2Fdocos">παράδοξος</w> <w lemma="au%29%2Fchsis">αὔξησις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumfro%2Fnhsis">συμφρόνησις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fgone">γέγονε</w>.
<w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29pibalome%2Fnwn">ἐπιβαλομένων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="parelhluqo%2Fsi">παρεληλυθόσι</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%29to%5C">ταὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="sumfe%2Fron">συμφέρον</w> <w lemma="a%29gagei%3Dn">ἀγαγεῖν</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnhsi%2Fous">Πελοποννησίους</w>, <w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kaqike%2Fsqai">καθικέσθαι</w> <w lemma="dunhqe%2Fntos">δυνηθέντος</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="koinh%3Ds">κοινῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29leuqeri%2Fas">ἐλευθερίας</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fneken">ἕνεκεν</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sfete%2Fras">σφετέρας</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fas">δυναστείας</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstous">ἑκάστους</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="spoudh%2Fn">σπουδήν</w>,
<w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Fthn">τηλικαύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxe">ἔσχε</w> <w lemma="prokoph%5Cn">προκοπὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunte%2Fleian">συντέλειαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="summaxikh%5Cn">συμμαχικὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="filikh%5Cn">φιλικὴν</w> <w lemma="koinwni%2Fan">κοινωνίαν</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%2Fs">αὐτούς</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmois">νόμοις</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="staqmoi%3Ds">σταθμοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="me%2Ftrois">μέτροις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fsmasi">νομίσμασι</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frxousi">ἄρχουσι</w>, <w lemma="bouleutai%3Ds">βουλευταῖς</w>,
<w lemma="dikastai%3Ds">δικασταῖς</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w>, <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnw%7C">μόνῳ</w> <w lemma="dialla%2Fttein">διαλλάττειν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="mia%3Ds">μιᾶς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesin">διάθεσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmpasan">σύμπασαν</w> <w lemma="%2Apelopo%2Fnnhson">Πελοπόννησον</w>, <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="peri%2Fbolon">περίβολον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="katoikou%3Dsin">κατοικοῦσιν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%2Fn">αὐτήν</w>, <w lemma="ta%29%2Flla">τἄλλα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koinh%3D%7C">κοινῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w> <w lemma="tau%29ta%5C">ταὐτὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsia">παραπλήσια</w>.
|
It was about this time that the Achaeans and King Philip with their allies began the war against the Aetolians known as the Social War.
I have now given a continuous sketch, suitable to this preliminary plan of my book, of events in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a> and that second war between the Romans and Carthaginians usually known as the Hannibalic War. This, as I stated at the outset, is the date at which I purpose to begin my general history,
and, now bidding good-bye for the present to the West, I must turn to the affairs of Greece, so that everywhere alike I may bring down this preliminary or introductory sketch to the same date, and, having done so, start on my detailed narrative.
For as I am not, like former historians, dealing with the history of one nation, such as Greece or <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Persia&groupId=871&placeId=1571">Persia</a>, but have undertaken to describe the events occurring in all known parts of the world — my own times having, as I will more clearly explain elsewhere, materially contributed to my purpose —
I must, before entering on the main portion of my work, touch briefly on the state of principal and best known nations and countries of the world.
As for Asia and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a>, it will suffice to mention what took place there after the above date, since their previous history has been written by many and is familiar to all, besides which in our own times Fortune has wrought no such surprising change in these countries as to render any notice of their past necessary.
But as regards the Achaean nation and the royal house of Macedon it will be proper to refer briefly to earlier events, since our times have seen, in the case of the latter, its complete destruction,
and in the case of the Achaeans, as I said, a growth of power and a political union in the highest degree remarkable.
For while many have attempted in the past to induce the Peloponnesians to adopt a common policy, no one ever succeeding, as each was working not in the cause of general liberty, but for his own aggrandizement,
this object has been so much advanced, and so nearly attained, in my own time that not only have they formed an allied and friendly community, but they have the same laws, weights, measures and coinage, as well as the same magistrates, senate, and courts of justice,
and the whole Peloponnesus only falls short of being a single city in the fact of its inhabitants not being enclosed by one wall, all other things being, both as regards the whole and as regards each separate town, very nearly identical.
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Walbank Commentary