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Why did Polybius focus his history on political and military events?

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Marble statue of Polybius seated with one arm raised, draped in classical robes, against a blue sky in Vienna, Austria. The base is inscribed with the name Polybius. — Polybius Polybius, statue in Vienna.

Polybius focused his history on political and military events because he believed that history should be pragmatikē historia—a practical, didactic tool designed to instruct serious students.1

He argued that the most valuable education for political activity is the study of history, which allows individuals to learn how to face the "vicissitudes of fortune" by reflecting on the past experiences of others. To be truly profitable, he maintained that history must prioritize real facts and political and military matters over the sensationalism, myths, or genealogies found in the works of other historians.1

By recording what actually happened, Polybius sought to provide a reliable guide for serious students, contrasting his approach with that of tragic poets who aimed only to thrill or charm an audience. Furthermore, he believed that a comprehensive, universal view was necessary to adequately explain how Rome rose to world power, as the affairs of the Mediterranean had become an "organic whole" by his time.1