HANNIBAL A4 SUMMARY
BY: CORMAC McCAUGHAN
LEGACY:
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Hannibal had an immense impact on Rome and Romans themselves for
hundreds of years after his death.
His legacy extends from diplomatic relations and policies to the very core
or mentality of the Romans themselves
His legacy also exists through his battle tactics which have been mimicked
by famous generals such as Napoleon Bonaparte hundreds of years after
the Second Punic War.
Foreign Policy:
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Hannibal’s personal impact on Roman foreign policy and affairs was
immense.
Firstly, we must state the most direct and obvious impact of Hannibal
Barca on Roman foreign policy – The Third Punic War. Simply put, the 3rd
Punic war was a direct result of Hannibal’s rampage on Rome 70 years
previous. Rome’s ‘policy’ towards Carthage was very negative and
aggressive, with a view that Carthage was beneath Rome and would never
rise again. Well, it did, or at least began to. Incredibly, Carthage payed off
all its debts to Rome, fulfilling the terms of the treaty signed at the end of
the second Punic war and started to recover economically and trade
again. Rome, in response to this, decided to destroy Carthage entirely,
with no two stones standing on top of one another. Carthage would never
again dominate the Mediterranean, only Rome.
Rome had a history of fear of invasion and not forgetting old grudges –
sacked by Gaul in 387 BC.
“In order to prevent such a catastrophe ever happening again, the Roman’s
determined to head off external threats before they could pose a direct
threat to the states existence.”
Domestic Policy:
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At the end of Hannibal’s War, the Romans decided that it was essential to
secure the northern frontier of Italy. Hannibal’s catastrophic invasion had
illustrated perfectly just how vulnerable the Romans were to a land
invasion from the north. The result of this lesson was that Rome settled
tens of thousands of veterans of the wars in Italy’s Po Valley. The network
of roads and the collection of cities built between 200 and 165 B.C.
throughout the Po Valley set the stage for the human and economic
geography of Italy up to this day.
Historian and novelist Anthony Durham stated that, “Hannibal’s invasion
of Italy in 218 B.C. at the onset of the Second Punic War was a similar
catalyst that moved the powers of republican Rome to make major changes
in their foreign policy and domestic economic policy.”
Other Impacts
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Very Mindset of the Roman people – fear of Hannibal as he had pushed
Rome to the very brink of its existence.
Perhaps most major impact: Total restructure of the Senate and Roman
government. Went from a democracy to a dictatorship. Fabius Maximus
was made dictator twice to combat Hannibal in Rome.
Forced Rome into using tactics it never would have ever engaged in
before. Guerilla warfare, cutting off supply lines, starving Hannibal’s army
of war were some of the tactics Rome was forced to introduce because of
Hannibal. Rome was a proud empire and fought in what it believed to be
an honorable fashion.
The impact of this is uncertain as Rome never had to use these tactics
again, as it was never the weaker opponent in any military conflict until it
began to decline as an Empire nearly 600 years later.
One benefit though: Wars with Hannibal enabled Rome to expand its
military prowess for future encounters in things like the Navy and battle
tactics, the idea of understanding your enemy in a conflict.
Impact of military tactics:
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Hannibal’s exceptional prowess in military strategy and tactics had an
immense impact on modern warfare.
His tactics have been imitated by some of the worlds most renowned
generals including:
Napoleon Bonaparte
Alfred von Schlieffen – The Schlieffen Plan WWI
General Norman Schwarzkopf – Iraq War 1990’s.
ASSESSMENT OF CAREER AND LIFE
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When assessing the military career of a prominent historical figure such
as Hannibal, the historian must ask himself the question: To what extent
was Hannibal a successful leader?
This can be answered by breaking down the question into smaller
enquiry questions:
WHAT DID HE ACHIVE?
IMPACT ON ANCINET AND MODERN WORLD
HISTORIANS.
Did he achieve all his objectives (military and non-military)?
If not all, why? Were these failures a direct result of Hannibal’s mistakes
or were there other factors involved?
What was his contribution/impact on the ancient and modern world?
What evidence do we have to make such judgments?
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Historians, ancient and modern?
If you were Hannibal, would you be satisfied with what you had achieved,
or lament the fact that you got so close to achieving your goal and failed?
Look at his achievements:
 Successfully invaded Rome with 38,000 infantry, 8,000 cavalry, and 37
war elephants by crossing the Alps.
 Came out the other side with almost half of what he started with.
(According to Polybius 20 000 infantry, 4000 horsemen and only a few
war elephants).
 United tribes of Gaul and convinced them to join him in his campaign.
 Did this, according to Polybius and in agreement with several modern
historians such as Tim Cornell and Anthony Durham, without any form of
mutiny – highlights his ability to maintain control as a leader.
 Won three (3) major pitch battles on Roman soil:
 Battle of Trebia
 Battle of Lake Trasimene
 Battle of Cannae
 Several other victories in Spain and other regions of Europe
 However, there is evidence to suggest he was not all that popular back
home at Carthage:
 Senate displeased with his actions
 Rarely saw his family
 Cause of economic, political and social tensions between Rome and
Carthage
 The Senate would eventually pull the plug on Hannibal’s war with Rome,
ordering him to return to defend Carthage’s assets in Spain instead.
 He was at Rome’s doorstep at this time. Had he had the support, could he
have destroyed it, and changed the course of history.
IMAGES AND INTERPRETAIONS:
 Images, basques, coins, statues.
 Modern film, television, theatres, operas, comics, novels, historical
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writings.
Polybius and Livy debate: different interpretations of Hannibal.
Polybius sees Hannibal from an objective point of view as a brilliant
military leader and strategist – basing his opinions on evidence and his
achievements and battle strategies.
Livy on the other hand seeks to defame Hannibal – accusing him of
cannibalism, barbarism, cruelty and greed.
Modern Historians: Robert O’Connell, Tim Cornell, Anthony Durham,
Boak & Sinnigen.
Robert L. O’Connell particularly good resource for quotes not only on
Hannibal but also on usefulness and reliability of ancient historians
writing on Hannibal.
QUOTES AND SOURCES:
Source: Polybius Histories
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“Of all that befell the Romans and Carthaginians, good or bad, the cause
was one man and one mind---Hannibal.”
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“But since the position of affairs has brought us to inquiry into the genius of
Hannibal, the occasion seems to me to demand that I should explain in
regard to him the peculiarities of his character which have been especially
the subject of controversy.”
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“ Some regard him as having been extraordinarily cruel, some exceedingly
grasping of money. But to speak the truth of him, or of any person engaged
in public affairs, is not easy.”
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“ For I think that men in these circumstances are compelled, not
occasionally but frequently, either by the suggestions of friends or the
complexity of affairs, to speak and act contrary to real principles.”
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“Hannibal excelled as a tactician. No battle in history is a finer sample of
tactics than Cannae. But he was yet greater in logistics and strategy. No
captain ever marched to and fro among so many armies of troops superior
to his own numbers and material as fearlessly and skillfully as he. No man
ever held his own so long or so ably against such odds”
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“For steadfastness of purpose, for organizing capacity and a mastery of
military science he has perhaps never had an equal.”
Robert L. O’Connell
“The Ghosts of Cannae”
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"In other words, what we know for sure is entirely limited, and all the
rest is basically opinion."
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"Polybius managed to attach himself to the clan and person of Scipio
Aemilianus, grandson of one of the two losing consuls at Cannae."
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"That’s the way it is with Appian; things that appear ridiculous on
average just might have happened, so they cannot be entirely
dismissed."
 "Rome, on the other hand, lost—suffering on that one day more battle
deaths than the United States during the entire course of the war in
Vietnam, suffering more dead soldiers than any other army on any
single day of combat in the entire course of Western military history."