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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Major Military Conflicts of the Ancient World, November 2, 2005
This review is from: The Fall of Carthage: The Punic Wars 265-146BC (Cassell Military Paperbacks) (Paperback)
Military history has been slighted in recent years, with the possible exception of John Keegan's insightful books. In part it is because focusing on the role of the military runs counter to the modern bias that social currents determine the nature of wars and not wars the direction of the times. We also embrace a moralistic tendency to believe that violence never really solves anything. But violence has solved many things even in modern times and until we stop resorting to war to resolve inter-state conflicts, the study of war is --or should be-- of importance to us.
Goldsworthy has written a solidly researched, lively (well --fairly lively) and measured history of the Punic Wars (265-146 BC). The three wars encompassed a theater of operations that spanned the south of Europe (Spain, Italy), the Mediterranean Sea (Sicily) and northern Africa, and took more than a century to complete. The wars were the formative conflict of the Roman Republic.
Goldsworthy argues convincingly that Rome eventually destroyed Carthage for four reasons: (1) unlike other ancient states, Rome refused to concede defeat, no matter how badly or frequently its troops were beaten in battle; (2) the Romans excelled in learning from enemies, borrowing their tactics to defeat them; (3) Rome's allies remained true to Rome, regardless of defeat or victory, more often than was true of Carthage's allies; and (4) Rome possessed resources well beyond those of Carthage, both in men and goods, which made it possible for Rome to fight a multi-decade war regardless of the cost.
This is a substantial book, accessible to novice as well as professional. Alas, the days are gone when one could count on school children knowing of the conflict between Carthage and Rome because they'd read about it in their Latin classes, but the story is still well worth telling.
David Keymer
Modesto CA
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33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Who needs Polybius or Livy?, April 3, 2004
This review is from: The Fall of Carthage: The Punic Wars 265-146BC (Cassell Military Paperbacks) (Paperback)
For anyone who has tried to trudge through Livy's account of the Hannibalian War, Goldsworthy's (AG's) book is extremely helpful. The ancient historians can be borderline-reliable. AG mentions frequently that timelines or characters are convoluted. He acts as a moderator between the ancient accounts, and giving his own best guess of events. This book is quite readable to amateur Greco-Roman historians like me, and the fact that much is lost from that period gives the whole subject a whiff of mystery. The first chapter on warfare and politics (they are, of course, mutually inclusive) in the ancient world is valuable. Most striking is the tediousness of preparing for battle: you'll never see this in "Gladiator" or "Troy". These are people and times so profoundly different than ours. So, if you're in between books about the Greatest Generation, try reading about the generation that lived through Trebia, Trasimene, and Cannae, and Zama.
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29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Invigorating and modern, March 20, 2005
This review is from: The Fall of Carthage: The Punic Wars 265-146BC (Cassell Military Paperbacks) (Paperback)
Definitely a great read. Despite the fallacious pitch on the back "The cast of endlessly fascinating characters includes the generals Hannibal and Scipio, as well as treacherous chieftains, beautiful princesses, scheming politicians, and tough professional warriors.", a great and entertaining read. Almost reads like a novel, while still solidly argumented and avoiding the easy melodrama.
Battles of the Antiquity are depicted in detail, consideing logistics and actual hand-to-hand fighting.
Also an analysis that goes beyond the facts to understand social and political conditions. Sources are compared, decisions are dicussed, plausible explanations are proposed, but the author always manages not to appear as the pedant know-it-all but as a modern teacher who challenges the reader, and offers various reasons for enigmatic political or strategic decisions.
A highly entertaining and intellectually refreshing read, thank you Mr Goldsworthy. I will investigate your other books.
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