Hannibal

March 1, 2015

MacDonald's (archaeology & classical studies, Univ. of Reading, England) scholarly study of Hannibal the Carthaginian (247-182 BCE) begins with a contextual background of the Carthaginian civilization, illustrating its origins in Phoenicia and its colonization of the Mediterranean. Hannibal is revealed as a man with motives, the son of the great warrior Hamilcar. The author contrasts and compares the narratives of Roman historian Livy and Greek chronicler Polybius by detailing the chess match that ensued between Rome and Carthage, including Hannibal's fantastic gamble over the Alps, the shocking outcome at the Battle of Cannae, and General Scipio's invasion of Africa. Keen readers are rewarded with extensive notes and citations; maps of the third-century BCE Mediterranean provide insight into the text's numerous geographic references. MacDonald uses every available resource to understand the conflict from Hannibal's perspective, gleaning Carthaginian cultural information from Roman sources, peeking into the internal motives and structure of Rome's famous rival. The work presents Hannibal's many faces: the military strategist, the impassioned leader of Carthage, the great organizer. VERDICT This text demands intense concentration, but its rewards for serious students of ancient history are boundless.--Jeffrey Meyer, Mt. Pleasant P.L., IA

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