According to Polybius, after the First Punic War, Hamilcar “took him by the hand, led him up to the altar... and [made him] swear never to be the friend of the Romans” (Poly. 3.11.6-7)1. The Romans believed that the Second Punic War was inspired by this moment. When the war began, Hannibal's victories were won with surprising ease. However, despite the fame he gathered during the war, Hannibal's war ended unsuccessfully. There may be many factors that prove why Carthage lost the Second Punic War, but by assessing other generals in Hannibal's command, the Carthaginian politics, and the Roman alliance system, Hannibal's defeat becomes understandable.
With the war being fought across the Mediteranean, Hannibal had to rely on other men to take charge even if they were not as capable as him. His brothers, Hasdrubal and Mago, were almost able to drive the Romans from
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Spain altogether when they defeated Scipios, but their inadequacies started to show through when Rome appointed Scipio Africanus to the Spanish command. The brothers tried to recreate the extremely difficult Cannae strategy only to be incapable of working it because of the poor quality and training of their troops. Africanus however, had adopted Hannibal’s tactics and the Barcas, incapable of dealing their brother's strategy, were defeated. Hannibal anticipated getting assistance from the Carthaginian assembly. He knew that despite the number of battles that he had won, he still lacked the required number of soldiers for a direct siege on Rome. He called for aid from Carthage but they refused, reluctant to do anything. Carthage, at that time,was an oligarchy and the inner circles often fought over the control of Carthaginian policy and if the leadership changed hands, support for the war could falter or even end altogether. The acceptance of war was not approved by everyone as Hanno, the leader of the anti-Barcid faction, disapproved of Hannibal’s actions and later argued against sending reinforcements to Italy. There was very little communication from the Carthaginian council until Africa was under attack. A fleet of reinforcements was sent to Hippocrates and Epycides when they were in danger from Africanus, but it was too late to save Syracuse and the reinforcements were then wiped out by a plague outside the city. Possibly the biggest factor contributing to Hannibal's defeat was the Roman state and her resources.
Rome had proved herself to be unconquerable, adapting to the needs of whatever situation arose, whether it had been the recovery after Pyrrhus or construction of a capable navy to challenge Carthaginian sea power. The defeats that occured towards Rome did not break her strength, let alone her spirit. “Instead, Augustan propaganda presented those defeats as tests of endurance, which made the Romans even more determined to pursue their course of action” (Livy 22.54.10)2. While Hannibal was a brilliant tactician on the battlefield, one of his biggest errors came from his belief that the Italians and Latins would welcome him as a liberator. This idea had stemmed from a belief that the Roman alliance system was similar to the Carthaginian, in that their allies were treated as enemies and supressed by violent brutality. However this was not the truth as the allies found the Roman rule extremely profitable and welcomed the military protection of Rome, which in turn dissuaded them from joining Hannibal's
cause. Hannibal found more support as he moved further south as these areas were only seized recently by Rome and some may have still remembered Rome's fall to Pyrrhus. While Hannibal managed to make some of Rome's allies unobtainable to them, many of Rome's allies remained loyal to them which provided them with enough men and resources for to win the war. Hannibal’s strategy was built on the assumption that upon their defeat, the Romans would agree to a peace treaty3. However, despite the repetitive defeats that the Romans encountered, she was able to raise another army and began adopting guerrilla tactics against Hannibal, no longer meeting him in open combat. They realized that while Hannibal was able to march freely through Italy, he was unwilling and unable to take Rome himself. The Romans were so sure that Hannibal could not capture the city that they auctioned off land where his army was situated. No matter how excellent his tactical skills were, Hannibal's successes in Italy were irrelevant to the war's conclusion.
“This account I have given the reader, not so much with the intention of commending the Romans, as of comforting those that have been conquered by them, and for the deterring others from attempting innovations under their government. This discourse of the Roman military conduct may also perhaps be of use to such of the curious as are ignorant of it, and yet have a mind to know it.” –excerpt from “Description of the Roman Army,” by Josephus
After the Costly victory of the Civil War, the Union need to reunite. The Union needed to readmit the rebellious southern states back into the country. Some Americans wanted to punish the south because of the war. They wanted to brutally reunify the country. Others, seeking a much more kinder approach, wanted to reunify the nation in a much more generous way. Both sides of the debate, wanted African Americans to have their freedom however. The problem for President Abraham Lincoln was difficult to answer, and had a detrimental impact on the United States that would last an eternity. Should the reconstruction plan be based on punishment or reunification? What are the civil liberties given to the newly emancipated African Americans? What should
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.
Hannibal’s campaign against Saguntum, who was an ally of Rome at the time was became a prelude for the beginning of the Second Punic War. Although this conflict was believed to have been instigated by the Romans who instilled hostility towards Carthage in Saguntum’s government. Hannibal marched on the city, lay siege to it and later claimed it after its fall 8 months later. Outraged the Romans declared war on Carthage and thus the Second Punic War ensued. He then
If the second Punic war is to be discussed, I think it is very important to discuss the first Punic war and its motivations and outcomes, because there is a significant link between the two. Of course, as we know a second of anything is made possible by the first, and in the case of the Punic wars, the first war not only made way for the second, it also gave birth and motivation to one of the greatest and most influential participants of the second Punic war, Hannibal. As we explore the dusk of the first Punic war to the dawn of the second, we can see how Hannibal as a military commander was destined to wreak havoc on the Roman military.
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.
even today for his campaign, the hatred Hannibal felt for Rome was clearly seen on the
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, also called the Second Carthaginian War, took place from 218 to 201 B.C between the Roman Republic and Carthaginian Empire. There were three Punic Wars in all, resulting in Roman dominance over the Mediterranean. Rome saw how large Carthage was getting and how much power it was gaining. This, along with the fact that Carthage controlled three islands off the coast of Italy, was an issue for Rome. Rome insisted that Carthage join the Republic, to which Carthage disagreed. The two groups fought for twenty years, ending the wars when Carthage offered Rome the island of Sicily in exchange for peace. Rome took Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia. Carthage, lead by Hamilcar Barca, took off to fight Spain. Hamilcar’s son, Hannibal, was nine years old at the time. Before they left Carthage, Hamilcar made his son promise that when he was older he would fight Rome for revenge. Hannibal agreed, thus beginning the legend of Hannibal, military genius. (Second)
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...
Hannibal Barca was born in 247 B.C. in the city of Carthage, which was located in modern Tunis, or the northern tip of Africa. His father, Hamilcar Barca, was a great Carthaginian general of the army who fought in the First Punic War between Rome and Carthage, which the latter lost. At a very young age, Hamilcar made Hannibal promise “eternal hatred towards Rome” (Lendering, 1). At around age nine, Hannibal accompanied his father on an expedition to gain a hold in Spain. During this time was when Hannibal probably gained most of his military knowledge that helped him greatly later in life. When Hannibal’s father and older brother died in 229 and 226, Hannibal was elected commander-in-chief of the Carthaginian army. About ten years later, Hannibal, acting on his promise to his father, attacked the city of Sagantum in Spain, which was controlled by the Romans. This attack led to the start of the Second Punic War between Carthage and Rome.
Another sizeable contributing factor to the expansion of the Roman Empire was the sacking of Rome by the Gauls in 390 B.C.. “The Romans were completely dumbfounded by the wild and undisciplined charge of the howling Gauls. The Roman’s tightly packed phalanx, a military formation they had adopted from the Greeks of southern Italy, collapsed, and the Romans fled” (Kidner, 129). The sacking left the Romans determined to prevent and avoid any similar outcomes in the future.
Ultimately, the Roman Republic’s downfall lay in its lack of major wars or other crises, which led to a void of honor and leadership. War united all of Rome’s people, and provided the challenge to its leaders to develop honor and leadership by their causes and actions. The lack of war allowed the Roman Republic to stagnate and become self-indulgent. By the end of the Punic Wars, which combined these elements, Rome was sure to fail. Without a common thread uniting its society, the Roman Republic unraveled because it had nothing left holding it together.
They couldn 't claim to be the super power of all the nations in the world because of that though their government was well-organized with a well structures political system. We can see above that the Carthageans were almost equal to the Romans. They had many allies, slaves, soldiers, warships, and were also very wealth just like the Romans. They had very fertile agricultural lands and they also continued coveting and conquering many other Syrian, and Greek states. At first when the Romans were asked by the Sycilians to come and join them to fight their battles they refused but when they realized that they were giving their rival, Carthage opportunity to help Sicily and have control over it. This was going to threaten them seriously and undermine their imperial ambitions. They then accepted the offer and send many soldiers to Sicily and defeated the Carthageans there. this gave them opportunity to begin a serious war with Carthage which ended and resulted in the defeat of the Carthagean army and the control of Africa and Spain. The Romans were very strategic and creative. This made them the Naval power of those days. The Carthageans were asked now to pay ten thousand talents to the Romans and their army was