Volume Editor's Introduction

Summary

The involvement of Rome in Greek affairs toward the end of the third century, the victory over Macedon and then the Roman annexation of Macedon, Greece and Asia produced conditions that transformed the intellectual, social and political nature of the Roman ruling class. So important was this transformation that special attention must be given to it, and it was felt that a separate volume would be necessary to illustrate the many political and diplomatic actions that were so much a part of it. Like the other volumes of the series this one will supply translations of materials not readily available in English, but references to important passages in authors like Polybius or Livy will be given at the appropriate places. The basic intent of the translations has been to express the exact meaning of the original Latin or Greek and to preserve the ‘feel’ of the original documents and facilitate the checking of references by a conscious effort to maintain line-by-line precision. At times the nature of the Latin or Greek languages has made it impossible, or at least exceedingly difficult, to preserve such line-by-line translation, and therefore a certain amount of manipulation of English grammar or style has been necessary. The result is often contrary to natural English idiom. It is hoped that students of ancient history who use this book will be stimulated to that more intensive study of the original languages so vital to advanced research.