Hannibal
Narrative content
3. Polybius
4. Livy
5. The Second Punic War begins
7. Hannibal's Campaigns 218-216bc
9. The End of the War – after Cannae: 215-202bc
10. Scipio Africanus
Commentaries on the Sources
1. Polybius on the Value of History
2. Livy's account of Hannibal's march to the Alps
3. Polybius and Livy on Hannibal's crossing of the Alps
4. Polybius on the Battle of Trasimene
5. Livy, Polybius and Plutarch on Fabius Maximus
6. Livy on the Battle of Cannae
7. Livy on the discussion between Hannibal and Scipio
9. Sources on Hannibal's statesmanship (nb NOT a set text)
Themes for Debate
1. Did Hannibal cause the Second Punic War?
2. How amazing was Hannibal's crossing of the Alps?
3. How good a general was Hannibal?
4. Did Fabius Maximus save Rome?
7. How good a statesman was Hannibal?
Links:
The following websites will help you:
Essential: Dexter Hoyos's introduction to Livy: Hannibal's War Books21-30 is difficult, but covers most of your specification
Recommended: Richard A Gabriel's Hannibal: The Military Biography of Rome's Greatest Enemy is easy-reading and erudite
Watch the BBC documentary Hannibal: Rome's Worst Nightmare - but see if you can spot any mistakes!
Or read Hannibal goes to Rome - Hannibal's story in cartoon form!
Finally, these are the links to the blog-articles I have written about Hannibal:
• Polybius, τύχη and παράδοξον
• What DID Polybius mean by: πραγματικῆς ἱστορίας?
•
The Saguntum Outrage and the Causes of the Second Punic War
• What Was Hannibal's Route Over The Alps?
• Did Hannibal Have Any War Aims – And If So What Were
they?
• Livy's Battles
•
Hannibal and his Elephants - An Ineradicable Myth?
• Was Hannibal a military genius? OR Why did the Romandlose
at Cannae?
• Fabius Maximus - an exercise in Roman propaganda
•
The meeting between Hannibal and Scipio at Naragarra