Polybius and the punic wars chapter in edited volume. Jan 02, 2020 polybius about hannibals crossing of the alps the rhone rises northwest of the head of the adriatic on the northern slope of the alps, and running in a southwesterly direction, falls into the sardinian sea. Hunts bibliography runs to 30 pages of ancient and modern books and articles, but the story he tells in hannibal leans as heavily on livy and polybius as all the others do. Hannibal s oath when, after his final defeat by the romans, hannibal had at last quitted his country and was staying at the court of antiochus, the warlike attitude of the aetolian league induced the romans to send ambassadors to antiochus, that they might be informed of the kings intentions. Polybius account of the rise of rome, from city on seven hills to world power, has great vigour, reading book one which deals with the first punic war when rome leapt out of italy into conflict with carthage for control over scilly i had the sensation that the narrative was pursuing me like an elephant, bearing down on me as i fled before it. Polybius, histories, book 3, hannibal marches through iapygia. Thus through all that winter and spring the two armies remained encamped facing each other. In book xii, polybius discusses the worth of timaeus account of the same period of history. Polybius started to join him, but broke off his journey at corcyra on learning that the carthaginians were inclined to yield. The histories of polybius book three translated by. Polybius, histories, book 3, hannibals preparations. Doc polybius and the punic wars chapter in edited volume.
However, reconstruction of the crossing, and indeed any topic concerning the history of the punic wars itself. That polybius had planned wisely is shown by nieses. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. But when the season for the new harvest was come, hannibal began to move from the camp at geronium. Polybius personally traced the route of hannibal in order to write about his war. For it is notorious that he managed the italian campaigns in person, and the spanish by the agency of the elder of his brothers. This book does an excellent job of peeling back some of the hidden layers on hannibal himself, a truly enigmatic character who wouldve stood out as an extraordinary individual in any era. Hannibal could say nothing against the boldness and effectiveness of the idea, but was unable to persuade himself or his friends to entertain it. Two major historical sources exist for this event, polybius and livy.
Polybius admiration for the roman constitution as it is described in book 6. Polybius, who got his information firsthand by interviewing some of the survivors from hannibal s army, describes the rockfall in detail, saying that it consisted of two landslides. Polybius even takes the position of hannibals apologist on at least two occasions. Polybius about hannibals crossing of the alps novo.
Livy and polybius two brilliant ancient historians have left an invaluable insight into the life of hannibal from carthage and have documented in their. Livy and polybius on the life of hannibal from carthage. But when, in 147, scipio himself took the command in africa, polybius hastened to join him, and was an eyewitness of the siege and destruction of carthage. The histories of polybius book five translated by evelyn s.
Polybiuss most popular book is the rise of the roman empire. In my former book i explained the causes of the second war between rome and carthage. Hannibal was the son of the great carthaginian general hamilcar barca. Hannibal, argueably the greatest war hero of the ancient world, second to alexander the great was both loved and hated throughout the hellenic world and has remained a major historical character studied through ancient history circles today. Polybius history properly begins, as he himself states distinctly, with the third book, books iii being merely introductory, and should have ended with the early part of book xxx. Books by polybius author of the rise of the roman empire. The authors use of sources such as polybius and livy is particularly fascinating when used in conjunction with known facts from the actual battle sites. The document hannibal prepared for his proposed alliance of carthage with macedonia, in 215 bce recorded by polybius, 7. Polybius about hannibals crossing of the alps novo scriptorium. Of course hannibal did not act as these writers describe, but conducted his plans with sound practical sense. Hannibal relates the famous generals story with wonderful. Polybius took thucydides as his model, livy herodotus. Polybius and livy on hannibals crossing of the alps.
Placed after hannibal s victories at the trebia, lake trasimene, cannae and after the treaty between carthage and macedonia, when romes fortunes had reached their lowest point, this long digression explains why the romans could recover from a series of disasters that would have terminated. Hannibal and rome whats the angle for polybius and livy. Polybius was the son of lycortas, a distinguished achaean statesman, and he received the upbringing considered appropriate for a son of rich landowners. Polybius was born about two centuries after thucydides died, so the mediterranean had changed completely. It is this mans acts in italy that they say were attributed to hannibal, to maintain the accusation of cruelty, as well as such as were the result of circumstances. The character of hannibal internet history sourcebooks fordham. The year of office as strategus of the younger aratus had now come to an end with the rising of the pleiades. Hannibal s most famous achievement is his crossing of the alps. Experience and the lessons of history, daniel walker moore shows how polybius integrates these two apparently competing concepts in a way that affects not just his educational philosophy but the construction of his historical narrative. Elements of bias in polybius treatment of the first and. He also chronicled the conflicts between hannibal and publius cornelius scipio africanus such as the battle of ticinus, the battle of the trebia, the siege of saguntum, the battle of lilybaeum, and the battle of rhone crossing.
It is the first of its kind to offer a holistic view of daily events during the early stages of the 2nd punic war, whose specific dates have been calculated to give accurate times and places. According to polybius, hannibal much later said that when he came upon his father and begged to go with him, hamilcar agreed and. He had ascertained by careful inquiry the richness of the country into which he proposed to descend and the aversion of the people to the romans. Polybius and livy on hannibals crossing of the alps john d clare. That said, livy and polybius are my main ancient sources, so i do have some impressions, as i said here and here. Of all that befell the romans and carthaginians, good or bad, the cause was one man and one mind hannibal. He himself declares his admiration mfpejkfql01 for hannibals leadership, courage, and ability in the field 11. The greek city states had declined in power after the tragedy that thucydides described and then been swallowed up by macedonia and alexander the great.
For hannibal anticipated their measures by the capture of saguntum. Of the thirtynine books, the first one deals with the first punic war, according. Both polybius and livy had personal connections to powerful roman aristocracy. Jul 12, 2017 well never be any closer to the actual truth of it than livy and polybius let us get, so the approach patrick hunt uses in his book taking each working cog of the hannibal story in its turn. The other source is the twentyfirst book of the history of rome from its foundation, written by polybius roman colleague titus livius of padua. His youthful biography of philopoemen reflected his admiration for that great achaean leader, and an interest in military matters found expression in his lost book, tactics. The credibility of fabius pictor first cause of the second punic war second cause of the war hannibal s oath statesmen must pay attention to motives hannibal succeeds to. Hannibal occupied most of southern italy for 15 years, but could not win a decisive victory, as the romans led by fabius maximus avoided confrontation with him, instead waging a war of attrition. Book by carl sagan, the fine art of baloney detection, quoting the histories, work by polybius, 1995. The credibility of fabius pictor first cause of the second punic war second cause of the war hannibals oath. This book aims to offer a daytoday style chronology of hannibal s journey to domination over the roman empire in a diary format. Dec 05, 2016 by painting hannibal as a terrible and cunning opponent, polybius and livy cast the roman republic as a determined and unbreakable entity that can withstand a threat like hannibal, take on any challenge, and stand the test of time.
The greek historian polybius and the roman historian livy are the two primary sources for his life. Polybius, who wrote his account of the journey after retracing hannibals steps from iberia to italia 60some years later, is considered one of the more reliable sources along with roman historian livy titus livius, who also wrote about the route using longgone historical texts, although he never travelled it. Jan 20, 2009 i am, as you may have picked up from the blog, not a historian, just a writer whos having fun with hannibal and scipio as the main characters in a book about, well, you and me. The rise of the roman empire by polybius goodreads.
Polybius endeavoured and discovered in book 9 an honest side to the character of hannibal stating for i think that men in these circumstances are compelled, not occasionally but frequently, either by the suggestions of friends or the complexity of affairs, to speak and act contrary to real principles. Livy and polybius on the life of hannibal from carthage free. Hannibal was a carthaginian general and statesman who commanded carthages main army. Task read the following passages from polybius, and write answers to the questions which follow. Polybius explains this in his fascinating sixth book. You may also be interested to read two articles by mr clare on key concepts in polybius. Polybius has 179 books on goodreads with 12163 ratings.
According to them, hannibal was taken to spain by his father and at an early age was made to swear eternal hostility to rome. Hannibal marches through iapygia though hannibal shifted his quarters from time to time for short distances in one direction or another, he remained in the neighbourhood of the adriatic. The manner in which figures such as hannibal, scipio africanus, or even the romans as a whole. Placed after hannibals victories at the trebia, lake trasimene. Polybius and livy, whose histories of rome are the main latin sources regarding his life, claimed that hannibal s father, the great carthaginian general hamilcar barca, brought his son to spain. Hannibal s wellplanned strategies allowed him to conquer several italian cities allied to rome. The histories of polybius book four translated by evelyn s.