People have questioned why Hannibal did not immediately march on Rome after his victory at Cannae. But his main objective was to create a settlement that would free Carthage from Roman intervention. He was not interested in the total destruction of Rome. Hannibal hoped that his victories would bring Italian cities from the Roman Confederacy, but this was not the case. When Hannibal realized that he could not efficiently surround Rome with Italian states, he spread the conflict hoping to spread Rome’s resources thin. Hannibal brought different countries into the war against Rome. The real blow to Hannibal came in 209 when the Romans took Carthage and forced Hasdrubal out of Spain. This cut his main supply route off. Hannibal learned of …show more content…
His quick marches up and down Italy astonished the Romans and made their strategy much more complex. Hannibal was at an obvious disadvantage in regards of reinforcements and provisions. In 204, the Italian general Scipio landed in Carthage. He was so successful Carthage begged for peace the following year. Terms were agreed upon, and Hannibal was called on. The sight of Hannibal caused the Carthaginians to resist, however, and hostilities were renewed. The two armies met and fought in 202 at Zama. This battle would decide the outcome of the war. This time Hannibal had finally met his match; a superior cavalry outnumbered him. Hannibal and his army, nearly destroyed, managed to escape. Peace was made the next year. Rome restricted the Carthaginian navy viciously and demanded a heavy security. Carthage could never wage war outside of African, and could fight within Africa only with Roman permission. Hannibal accepted and retired to private life in 200. Failure to accept the peace terms would have meant the destruction of …show more content…
Hannibal was prepared to take a back seat for a time. However, he re-emerged and he was elected as chief magistrate. Hannibal restored the power and authority of the job. Hannibal effectively reformed the abuses that the heavy tribute imposed by Rome. He made it so they could be paid by installments without additional and extra taxation. He reformed the Hundred and Four, and made it so its membership must be chosen by direct election. He changed the term of office in the Hundred and Four from life to a year with his citizen support. Hannibal proved to be as talented an administrator as he was a commander. The security to Rome was paid ahead of schedule and Carthage could once again focus on trade. The city-state began to strengthen and, and the land was among the most productive farmland of its age. It takes a very powerful man to be able
Although a genius on the battlefield, where he used surprise and maneuver to overcome the relatively small size of his force, I do not believe that Hannibal was an ethical leader. He did not always exhibit the essential intellectual traits of critical thinking, nor did he always enforce ethical standards. To clarify, Hannibal’s vision was for independence for the territories. But based on some of his actions, the concept of ‘freedom for all’ was not part of that vision. Hannibal exhibited the trait of intellectual hypocrisy; he didn’t hold himself to the same standards that he fought for when he faced the ethical dilemma of feeding, equipping, and paying his troops for their service; or selling Roman captives into slavery.
Hannibal was a Punic Carthaginian military commander, reputed to be one of the greatest in history and even a better tactician. Hannibal lived in a time of great friction in the Mediterranean where the Roman Republic dominated Macedon, Syracuse and the Seleucid Empire. He was a notable member of the Barca family, a noble family well known for being staunch antagonists of the Roman Republic. His father Hamilcar was a leading commander in the First Punic War, his brother-in-laws were Hasdrubal the Fair who preferred diplomacy to war and the Numidian king Naravas, and both his brothers, Mago (commanded Hannibal’s forces and made decisive pushes) and Hasdrubal (defended Carthaginian cities in Hispania as Hannibal left for Italy in 218 BC) assisted immensely in the campaign against the Romans . Unlike many other African warlords, not only did Hannibal and his forces protect their home territory but he was also the only African commander to invade Europe in turn. In other words, he did not only defend his town or lie in wait for further oppression but rather counter-attacked and took the fight to the oppressors.
It appears that Caesar's death marked an epoch in Roman history where civil wars were once again resurrected. Furthermore, Caesar introduced social and economic reforms. In his process of ameliorating Rome's social condition, the provinces became richer as the Roman businessmen were restricted from exploiting them. This is crucial because a country's capital is strongly related to the government's stability. Besides that, the poor were helped when he established a public works programme, which provided employment to them.
Knox, E.L. "The Punic Wars." Hannibal Crosses the Alps. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2014.
be better for Rome while the others just did not want him to become more powerful than
Gaius Julius Caesar, born 100 B.C.E. in Rome to the impoverished patrician Julian Clan, knew controversy at an early age. Nephew to Populare Gaius Marius, he was earmarked by the Optimate dictator Sulla for prosciption after his refusal to divorce his Populare wife, Cinna. Fleeing Rome, and not returning until after Sulla’s resignation in 78 B.C.E, upon his return he gained a position as a pontificate, an important Roman priesthood. Slowly but surely throughout his lifetime he worked his way up the political ladder, eventually becoming Consul, and finally Dictator Perpeteus – Dictator for life. One of the most influential political and military leaders of all time, Caesar was also a highly intelligent man and an exceptional orator. However, acquiring this absolute power was no mean feat, and Caesar had well equipped himself through previous expeditions with all the resources necessary to gain power in Ancient Rome.
In Africa at the battle of Zama, is where Hannibal would meet his match. The same way Hannibal started the second Punic war- by luring the roman army to its allies under attack- is the same way he was lured into Africa by a series of calculated attacks on the Carthaginians homeland, all orchestrated by Publius Scipio. Publius Scipio, like Hannibal was a young and brilliant military commander and at the battle of Zama finally proved superior by defeating Hannibal and his forces, bringing Carthage to its knees. “In this battle Hannibal was defeated, and the Carthaginian army was annihilated.”(Morey, 1901)
The war started because of conflicting interests between the two, especially the expanding Roman Republic. At the end of the war, thousands of lives were lost, Rome ascended into power, conquering Carthage and becoming the most powerful state in the Mediterranean. During one point of the Second War, or the Hannibalic War, Carthage nearly brought Rome to her knees. With reinforcement from their Gallic allies, Carthage defeated the Roman army in the Battles of Trebia, Trasimene, and Cannae. Had Rome not defeated Carthage, the history Western civilization would be drastically altered, shaping a very different world than the one we live in today. It is said “All roads lead to Rome”. There is a lot of truth to this quote because Rome, with all its power and glory, paved the road for our modern society; it allowed Christianity to spread and flourish, the basis for democracy, and served as melting pot of cultures and customs.Rome can be considered one of the greatest influences on Western civilization, leaving us with priceless gifts that we will always
Since the beginning of time, man has waged war on his neighbors, his friends and his enemies. In many cases these wars were caused by power-hungry nations that were in the process of expanding their empire and ended up stepping on the toes of another superpower or ally of a superpower. In the case of the first Punic War between Rome and Carthage, Carthage was extending its empire and they stepped on Rome’s toes. During the course of this war the winner was unclear but at times victory seemed eminent for both sides until Rome finally won. The Romans had control in the first part of the war but this would not last. After the Romans first win they decided that they needed a victory over the city of Carthage but this would turn the tides in favor of the Carthaginians. For some 15 years after this defeat of Rome the tides went back and forth between the two but would eventually lead to the Romans victory. After the victory, Rome made some very harsh demands and Carthage filled those demands even though some of them were very extreme.
Hannibal's first battle took place when he was only nine. He went on an expedition with his father, Hamilcar Barca, to conquer Spain. From the beginning Carthage’s push into Spain, Hannibal vowed eternal hatred for Rome; Hannibal became Commander in Chief of Carthage’s army when he was 26 after his father was assassinated. His conquest of the Roman town of Sagunto in Spain led to a new declaration of war by Rome; which started the second Punic War and Hannibal’s promise to visit Roman injustice back on Rome a hundred fold. For Carthage to take the town of Sagunto was completely within the rights of the Carthage and the treaty but Rome at the time was getting too big and becoming very imperialistic. All Rome could see was that they had to have all of the Mediterranean and the only thing that stood in their way was a single General and his men. The way in which the Romans were unconsciously straying from "mos maiorum" to manipulate the course of events was disturbing. Though these actions were not entirely the "evil" work of Rome. Hannibal from his earliest memories could recall nothing but hatred for Rome. Hannibal’s Father had instilled a horrifically self-destructive desire within Hannibal to see the fall of Rome.
Caesar proved he was the most successful. This was due to careful planning and implementation. It seemed everything he put his mind to accomplish he did so with ease. This was truly a great leader and certainly changed lives both for the better and worst, depending on which side, you were either winners or losers. Of course, all the bribing he did along the way definitely greased the skids. This made him some real serious enemies along the way. Caesar always had an eye out for promising recruits and never failed to single those men out and reward them. This earned him many friends along the path to the temporary dictator. There should be no doubt on Caesar’s importance in the history of the empire as he was that guy who never wanted to rest on his achievements, but someone who always had a plan on just how to get things done. He was never defeated as a general. Caesar rarely failed at any task he chose to undertake. He just somehow knew how to get things done and he never really stopped thinking about how to improve the city and it roads. Caesar was the best as dictators go but were never afraid to be brutal and ruthless if the times called for it. He was never one to show mercy unless it was unavoidable. Love him or hate him, he was one of the best leaders of all time. Politicians today can still learn a thing or two from Caesar. Bribery is definitely frowned upon, but it is still happening all over the world. The more things change, they seem to stay the same and it is because it
However, though his life came to a close, Hannibal continued to live on in legend. His
Rome became a powerful empire engulfing much of Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia and what seemed like this great entity called the Romans were always in the search of more territory and land to conquer and assimilate into their ever growing vast empire. However, this was not always the case, before Rome became one of the greatest empires in all of history, Rome was a republic. They were government consisted of a Senate who much like our country today represented certain classes of the citizens of the Republic. During the growth and rise of the Roman republic conquering neighboring territories and competing for land grabs was not Romans primary objectives. Romans believed in the well being and wealth of Rome, and if that meant the total destruction of a potential adversary, then as history will show that is unfortunately to the detriment of the adversary what happened.
The Second Punic war, beginning in 218 BC, was the second major war between the Roman Empire and the Carthage. Around the same time, the Roman Empire deployed troops to the Northeastern peninsula of Spain to keep reinforcements, from the Carthaginian South, from getting to Hannibal’s armies in Italy to assist them. In A Histor...
Even before the war started, Hannibal knew what he was going to do. Since Carthage had no navy, there was no hope of going directly from Carthage to Italy over the Mediterranean Sea. Hannibal thought up a dangerous but ingenious plan. In order to get to Italy over land, Hannibal and his army would have to travel from Carthage-controlled Spain across the Alps and into the heart of the enemy. Hannibal left in the cold winter of 218 B.C. with 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, and 37 war elephants. While crossing the Alps, “Hannibal’s force suffered greatly from the elements and the hostility of the local tribesmen” (Beshara, 3). By the time they reached Italy, after only fourteen days, over 9,000 men had perished along with most of the elephants, but this number was soon replenished after 14,000 northern Gaul rebels joined Hannibal’s army. This group of 60,000 men proved superior to the Roman forces, and after at least three recorded major victories, the Roman senate was exasperated. An army of 80,000 Roman soldiers was sent to stop Hannibal’s army of now 50,000 once and for all. In July of 216 B.C., the Romans engaged the Carthaginians in “the neighborhood of Cannae on the Italian east coast” (Lendering, 2). Greatly outnumbered, Hannibal realized that he would have to win by strategy, and that is exactly what he did. As the two lines met, Hannibal’s cavalry gained the flanks and, moving up the sides, attacked the rear of the Roman line.