How did Polybius explain the practical value of studying history?

For the Greek historian Polybius, the study of history was fundamentally didactic, serving as the most reliable training for political activity. He argued that history provides the only effective way to learn how to endure the "vicissitudes of fortune" by reflecting on the past disasters of others.1

Polybius championed pragmatikē historia (pragmatic history), which prioritizes political and military matters over myths or antiquarian interests. He believed that a historian’s moral duty is to record the truth of events and speeches rather than using sensationalism to charm or thrill an audience, as tragic poets might. By focusing on real facts, the historian aims to instruct and benefit serious students for all time.1

Furthermore, Polybius emphasized the value of a universal history to understand the interconnected nature of the world, particularly the rise of Rome. By analyzing the causation of events and the structure of political institutions, he sought to provide practical lessons that could help states understand their own stability and avoid the cyclical patterns of political decay.12