Customer Reviews

Hannibal's War

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John Peddie's, Hannibal's War is an interesting look at Hannibal's campaign against Rome. Peddie follows Hannibal chronologically through Spain, Cisalpine Gaul, and down to the foot of Italy.

Peddie comments on the much debated route that Hannibal took across the Alps. He comments on Hannibal's use of elephants. He also re-evaluates each battle and suggests other possible moves Hannibal might have taken to ensure victory. He suggests that after Hannibal's great victory at Cannae, that Hannibal should have proceded onto take Rome. Peddie also adds that Polybius also feels that he should have kept his momentum going after Cannae.

Peddie mostly uses Polybius and Livy as primary sources and quotes them often. Peddie maintains that Hannibal's ultimate goal was not to take Rome, but to take Sicily back for Carthage.

Peddie feels that this was Hannibal's purpose the whole time. He states that Carthage was simply trying to establish itself as an empire again, after losing territory in the 1st Punic War. However, Peddie doesn't really back-up his theory stringently. If that was Hannibal's goal, why didn't he goal straight to Sicily after taking Sarguntum (an important port in Spain)? Why bother with crossing the alps and treking all the way down the Italian Pennisula, if all he wanted was Sicily?

The book is illustrated nicely and gives the reader a good overall look at this great general and his impressive campaign.