<head>Preface</head>PERHAPS a<foreign lang="fr">resumé</foreign>of events in each Olympiad may arrest the attention of my readers both by their number and importance, the transactions in every part of the world being brought under one view.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note1">144th Olympiad, B. C. 204-200.</note>However, I think the events of this Olympiad especially will do so; because in it the wars in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a> came to an end; and I cannot imagine any one not caring to inquire what sort of catastrophe and conclusion they had. For everybody, though extremely interested in details and particulars, naturally longs to be told the end of a story. I may add that it was in this period also that the kings gave the clearest indication of their character and policy. For what was only rumour in regard to them before was now become a matter of clear and universal knowledge, even to those who did not care to take part in public business. Therefore, as I wished to make my narrative worthy of its subject, I have not, as in former instances, included the history of two years in one book. . . .<note anchored="yes" type="summary" place="inline" resp="ess" id="note2">Elected Consul for B.C. 205 (see<ref target="b11c33" targOrder="U">11, 33</ref>) Scipio had <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> assigned as his<foreign lang="la">provincia</foreign>, with leave to cross to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> if necessary (<bibl n="Liv. 28.45" default="NO" valid="yes">Livy, 28, 45</bibl>). He sent Laelius to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> in B.C. 205, but remained himself in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>. Next spring (B.C. 204) he crossed to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> with a year's additional imperium. In the course of this year he ravaged the Carthaginian territory and besieged Utica (<bibl n="Liv. 29.35" default="NO" valid="yes">Livy, 29, 35</bibl>), and at the beginning of B.C. 203 his imperium was prolonged till he should have finished the war (<bibl n="Liv. 30.1" default="NO" valid="yes">id. 30, 1</bibl>).</note>
Walbank Commentary