Hannibal's Dynasty: Power and Politics in the Western Mediterranean, 247-183 BC [Paperback]

Dexter Hoyos (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415359589 | ISBN-13: 978-0415359580 | Publication Date: January 9, 2005 | Edition: 1

Accessible and enlightening, Hannibal's Dynasty provides the full story of Carthage's achievement, going beyond the usual focus on Hannibal and military matters alone to look at a wide range of political and diplomatic issues too.

Dexter Hoyos shows how the aristocratic Barcid family won dominance in the free republic of Carthage, and how they exploited family connections to lead Carthage to greatness at home and abroad.

For students of Hannibal, his dynasty and his legacy - this is the book to read.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A major new contribution: it is a work of meticulous scholarship with a novel theme ... it should figure prominently on reading lists.' - JACT Review

'Extremely well put together.' - BCMR

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (January 9, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415359589
• ISBN-13: 978-0415359580
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,687,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blueprint of the Barcid ascendency to power, November 29, 2004

By 

B. Blanchard (California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hannibal's Dynasty: Power and Politics in the Western Mediterranean, 247-183 BC (Hardcover)

This book is an excellent source for anyone who wishes to learn more about the Barca family and the dynamics of its relationship to Carthage during the first two Punic Wars. Hoyos takes all of the primary sources still available today dealing with the Punic Wars (Polybios, Cassius Dio, Livy, etc.) and pieces together the most plausible explanation for how and why the first two Punic Wars occured. Perhaps the most important section of the book deals with Hamilcar and Hasdrubal's relationship with Carthage. Hoyos suggests that Carthage was divided into two camps (both of which desired to dominate Carthaginian politics), the Barcas and the followers of Hanno 'the Great'. This factional infighting goes a long was to explaining why, during the first and second Punic Wars, Carthage took such long periods of inaction towards Rome. Also, as stated earlier, since Hoyos takes all surviving primary sources concerning the first two Punic Wars he is able to give the most plausible narrative of the events. This is especially important because many of the primary sources contradict one another in their narratives. Naval sizes, dates of battles and other events are often confused or misrepresented in the primary sources. So what Hoyos does is to present the reader with all of the accounts and argues in favor for what he has decieded to be as the most plausible account of the wars. Even if the reader does not agree with Hoyos' interpretation, since he has laid out the evidence used to come to those conclusions, the reader is able to use the same evidence to come to one's own conclusions.
In short, this is an extremly valueable secondary source that can be quite helpfull to anyone interested in the history of the first two Punic Wars.