Hannibal at the Gates

The Second Romano-Carthaginian The Second Romano-Carthaginian War and the Contest for War and the Contest for

Mediterranean SupremacyMediterranean Supremacy

Carthaginian Spain and Barcid Expansion

Hamilcar Barca and the New Carthaginian Spanish Hamilcar Barca and the New Carthaginian Spanish Empire: 237-229/8 Empire: 237-229/8 BCEBCE Mineral Resources and ManpowerMineral Resources and Manpower Gades and the Fortress at AlicanteGades and the Fortress at Alicante Roman Reconnaissance Mission (231 Roman Reconnaissance Mission (231 BCEBCE?)?) Hamilcar: Meeting the War IndemnityHamilcar: Meeting the War Indemnity

Hasdrubal (Hamilcar’s son-in-law): 229-221 Hasdrubal (Hamilcar’s son-in-law): 229-221 BCEBCE Carthago Nova (New Carthage)Carthago Nova (New Carthage) The Ebro Treaty (226 The Ebro Treaty (226 BCEBCE?)?) The Massalia FactorThe Massalia Factor

Hannibal Barca (son of Hamilcar)Hannibal Barca (son of Hamilcar) Assumes high Spanish command in 221 Assumes high Spanish command in 221 BCEBCE Saguntum and the Roman UltimatumSaguntum and the Roman Ultimatum

Carthaginian Spain

Causes of the Hannibalic War:The Polybian Analysis (3.9-12)

The “Wrath of the Barcids”The “Wrath of the Barcids” Roman Seizure of Sardinia in the Aftermath Roman Seizure of Sardinia in the Aftermath

of the First Romano-Carthaginian Warof the First Romano-Carthaginian War Carthaginian Success in Spain and Roman Carthaginian Success in Spain and Roman

SuspicionsSuspicions ““Hannibal’s Oath”Hannibal’s Oath”

Alpine Gorge--Hannibal’s Troops Ambushed Here by Gallic Tribesmen

The Col de la Traversette

Hannibal’s Passage of the Alps

Synopsis of the Hannibalic War (218-202 BCE)

BlitzkriegBlitzkrieg Strategy-- Strategy--Hannibal arrives in Italy with Hannibal arrives in Italy with 26,000 troops26,000 troops

Plan: Disaffection of Roman AlliesPlan: Disaffection of Roman Allies Early Victories in Northern ItalyEarly Victories in Northern Italy

Ticinus and Trebia (218 BCE); Trasimene (217 BCE)Ticinus and Trebia (218 BCE); Trasimene (217 BCE) Cannae (Apulia): 216 BCE (Polyb. 3.107-18; Liv. Cannae (Apulia): 216 BCE (Polyb. 3.107-18; Liv.

22.43-9)22.43-9) 70,000 Roman casualties (Polyb. 3.117)70,000 Roman casualties (Polyb. 3.117) ““Double-Envelopment” TacticDouble-Envelopment” Tactic

Fabius Maximus Cunctator (“Delayer”; Fabian Fabius Maximus Cunctator (“Delayer”; Fabian Tactics)Tactics) Roman allies hold firmRoman allies hold firm Hannibal bottled up in southern ItalyHannibal bottled up in southern Italy Carthaginian reinforcements intercepted and destroyed at Carthaginian reinforcements intercepted and destroyed at

Metaurus River in 207 BCEMetaurus River in 207 BCE

Hannibal arrives in the Po River Valley (Polyb. 3.56)

““The whole march from New Carthage had The whole march from New Carthage had taken him five months, and the actual crossing of taken him five months, and the actual crossing of

the Alps fifteen days, and now when he boldly the Alps fifteen days, and now when he boldly descended into the plains of the Po valley and descended into the plains of the Po valley and

the territory of the Insubres, the army that was the territory of the Insubres, the army that was left to him consisted of 12,000 African and 8,000 left to him consisted of 12,000 African and 8,000

Spanish infantry, and not more than 6,000 Spanish infantry, and not more than 6,000 cavalry in all; he himself explicitly mentions cavalry in all; he himself explicitly mentions

these figures in the inscription on the column at these figures in the inscription on the column at Lacinium which records the strength of his Lacinium which records the strength of his

forces.”forces.”

The High Toll of the Alps(Polyb. 3.60)

““The result was that while Hannibal started The result was that while Hannibal started after the crossing of the Rhone with 38,000 after the crossing of the Rhone with 38,000 infantry and more than 8,000 cavalry he lost infantry and more than 8,000 cavalry he lost

nearly half his force as I have described nearly half his force as I have described above in making his way through the passes, above in making his way through the passes, while the survivors, because of the ceaseless while the survivors, because of the ceaseless

privations they endured, came in their privations they endured, came in their outward appearance and general condition to outward appearance and general condition to

look more like beasts than men.”look more like beasts than men.”

The Hannibalic War in Italy

The Battle at Trasimene (217 BCE)

The Battle at Cannae (216 BCE)

Rome on the Offensive Hannibal returns to Africa (autumn, 203 Hannibal returns to Africa (autumn, 203

BCE)BCE) Proconsul: P. Cornelius Scipio (204-202 Proconsul: P. Cornelius Scipio (204-202

BCE)BCE) The Battle at Zama (202 BCE) The Battle at Zama (202 BCE)

“Africanus”“Africanus” The Trial of the Scipios and the Politico-The Trial of the Scipios and the Politico-

Cultural Stance of the elder Cato Cultural Stance of the elder Cato (“Catonians” and “Philhellenes”?)(“Catonians” and “Philhellenes”?)

The Battle at Zama (202 BCE)

Aftermath of the Hannibalic War Spain: Roman Province from 197 Spain: Roman Province from 197 BCE BCE (see Livy, (see Livy,

32.27.6)32.27.6) The Greek World: “[I]t is evident even to those The Greek World: “[I]t is evident even to those

of us who give scanty attention to affairs of of us who give scanty attention to affairs of state, that whether the Carthaginians beat the state, that whether the Carthaginians beat the Romans or the Romans the Carthaginians in Romans or the Romans the Carthaginians in this war…they are sure to come here and this war…they are sure to come here and extend their ambitions beyond the bounds of extend their ambitions beyond the bounds of justice”justice” speech of Greek ambassador in 217 speech of Greek ambassador in 217 BCEBCE

Polybius, Polybius, HistoriesHistories, 5.104, 5.104

Readings for Next Meeting

Polybius, Polybius, The Rise of the Roman EmpireThe Rise of the Roman Empire, 178-276, 178-276 Harris, Harris, War and Imperialism in Republican RomeWar and Imperialism in Republican Rome, ,

9-539-53 Gruen, Gruen, Hellenistic World and the Coming of Hellenistic World and the Coming of

RomeRome, 1-53, 1-53

Questions for Readings How does Polybius represent Roman How does Polybius represent Roman

motivations in the First Illyrian, Gallic, and motivations in the First Illyrian, Gallic, and Hannibalic Wars? In these wars, who is the Hannibalic Wars? In these wars, who is the aggressor in the Polybian account?aggressor in the Polybian account?

Compare and contrast the views of Harris and Compare and contrast the views of Harris and Gruen on Roman imperial expansionGruen on Roman imperial expansion

In Gruen’s view, where and how did the In Gruen’s view, where and how did the Romans learn the diplomatic tools they Romans learn the diplomatic tools they employed in Greece?employed in Greece?

Assignments for Next Meeting Group Discussions of Polybius and the Group Discussions of Polybius and the

contrasting views on Roman contrasting views on Roman imperialism of W.V. Harris and E.S. imperialism of W.V. Harris and E.S. GruenGruen