Synopses & Reviews
Hannibals enduring reputation as both a man and a brilliant general is largely due to his enemies fascination with him. Universally ranked as one of the greatest tacticians and military strategists in history, Hannibal and his tactics have been studied as real-life lesson for even the most modern of wars. Under his leadership, Carthage came close to dominating the western Mediterranean; his total victory would have changed the course of history. Yet, on at least three occasions, a different strategic choice might have brought that elusive overall victory. This engaging history examines the contradictions and paradoxes of Hannibals career, including his puzzling final battle and enduring legacy. Exploring Hannibals politics just as voraciously as his storied military exploits, Dexter Hoyos fully considers issues regarding the possibility of postponing the Roman conflict in order to concentrate on Carthages own prosperity—creating an objective, questioning, and cogent portrayal of most famous Carthaginian in history.
Synopsis
Hannibal's enduring reputation as a man and as a general is due to his enemies' fascination with him. The way his legend was shaped and became ingrained in Greek and Roman awareness is one of the main themes of this book. Under Hannibal's leadership, Carthage came close to dominating the western Mediterranean; his total victory would have changed the course of history. That he was a brilliant general is unquestioned and his strategy and tactics have been studied as real-life lessons in war even into the modern era (Norman Schwartzkopf is a fan). And yet on at least three occasions (in 217, 216 and 207 BC) a different strategic choice might have brought that elusive overall victory. This book examines the inherent contradictions here, as well as the puzzle of the final battle of Zama. Hannibal's political career, as third leader of a highly successful republican dynasty, tends to be less appreciated than his military prowess.
Synopsis
Hannibal's enduring reputation as a man and as a general is due to his enemies' fascination with him. The way his legend was shaped in the Greek and Roman consciousness is one of the book's main themes. Under Hannibal's leadership, Carthage came close to dominating the western Mediterranean; his total victory would have changed the course of history. That he was a brilliant general is unquestioned and his strategy and tactics have been studied as real-life lessons in war even into the modern era (Norman Schwartzkopf is a fan). His political career is less appreciated and his achievements as civilian leader of Carthage in 196-5 BC have been virtually overlooked. The issue of whether he might indeed have changed history had he postponed conflict with Rome and concentrated first on Carthage's own prosperity and safety is explored in this volume as vigorously as the military questions.
About the Author
Dexter Hoyos is Professor of Classics and Ancient History in the University of Sydney and author of Unplanned Wars: the Origins of the First and Second Punic Wars (1998) and Hannibal's Dynasty: Power and Politics in the Western Mediterranean, 247-183 BC (2003).
Table of Contents
Illustrations
Preface
Hannibal's chronology
Maps
Italy and Sicily in Hannibal's time
The Western Mediterranean in Hannibal's time
Southern Italy 216-203 BC
The Eastern Mediterranean around 200 BC
1 Introduction: the challenge of Hannibal
2 Family and city
3 Barcids supreme (241-221)
4 Leadership and war (221-216)
5 Hannibal, Carthage and the Mediterranean (216-209)
6 Decline and defeat (209-202)
7 Hannibal in politics (201-195)
8 Hannibal in exile (195-183)
9 Hannibal: memory and myth
Bibliography
Notes
Index