Hannibal's Military Skill
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This research paper describes and discusses the military skills of Hannibal, which he displayed during the course of his campaigns and battles against Rome during the Second Punic War (218-200 B. C.). Throughout that war Hannibal demonstrated that he was a tactical military genius. He was also an extraordinarily effective field commander and leader of his coalition army. His initial strategy against the Romans was sound; however, its execution eventually became flawed due to Hannibal's failure to exploit fully his initial successes in Italy, Rome's political stability and staying power, the able generalship of Hannibal's principal adversary after 209 B. C., Consul Publius Scipio, and various accidents of fate. As a result of the First Punic War (264-241 B. C.) and its aftermath, Carthage, a Phoenician trading colony located in what is now Tunisia, lost control over the western Mediterranean Sea and its former dominance in western Sicily and Sardinia. During that war, Rome built a fleet and after that war controlled the sea approaches to Italy. Hannibal commanded Carthage's army during the Second Punic War (218-200 B.C), the outcome of which effectively eliminated Carthage as a major power in the region. The Second Punic War was one of many wars the Romans fought between the third and first centuries B.C. to secure its position on the Italian peninsula and to gain hegemony over the entire Mediterranean area which became a Roman l
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ings extended around, enclosing them in the rear" (XXII 47 288). As a result of this double envelopment, the Romans suffered a shattering defeat.
4. Hannibal took advantage of the tendencies and shortcomings of the Roman consuls opposing him, -- the impetuosity of Flaminius at Trebia, Terentius' ignorance of the dangers of engaging the Carthaginian mobile force on flat, open ground at Cannae and of Faubius' caution. Polybius attributed much of Hannibal's success in battle to his ability "to perceive the faults of others, and to . . . take full advantage of the weaknesses of their commanders" (III, 81 199).
5. Hannibal was a master at psychological warfare with his own men, toward the enemy and in keeping his unwieldy allies in line. He was unusual among generals of his age in paying attention to the training and victualing of his men. He retained their loyalty through sixteen years of long hard fighting in alien territory. Toward the Romans, he practiced the arts of intimidation. As he rushed south, he occupied the fertile plain of Capua in 215, burning and pillaging as he went. Polybius says that "by quartering themselves in this plain (they could] create a deep impression on all by their unexpected appearance . . . an
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Cannae Faubius', Punic War, Barca Carthage's, Polybius III, Livy Roman, Romans Hannibal, Livy Romans, Syrians Hannibal's, Romans Roman, Africa Scipio, punic war, carthaginian army, rome's political stability, rome's political, initial strategy, war 218-200, war hannibal, roman consuls, polybius iii, punic war 218-200, hannibal master, political stability,
Approximate Word count = 1457
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
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