{"product_id":"9781904675471","title":"Hannibal: Rome's Greatest Enemy","description":"\u003cp\u003eHannibal's enduring reputation as a man and as a general is due to his enemies' fascination with him. The way his legend was shaped and became ingrained in Greek and Roman awareness is one of the main themes of this book.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnder Hannibal's leadership, Carthage came close to dominating the western Mediterranean; his total victory would have changed the course of history. That he was a brilliant general is unquestioned and his strategy and tactics have been studied as real-life lessons in war even into the modern era (Norman Schwartzkopf is a fan). And yet on at least three occasions (in 217, 216 and 207 BC) a different strategic choice might have brought that elusive overall victory. This book examines the inherent contradictions here, as well as the puzzle of the final battle of Zama.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHannibal's political career, as third leader of a highly successful republican dynasty, tends to be less appreciated than his military prowess. His achievements as civilian leader (suffete) of Carthage in 196-5 BC have been virtually overlooked. The issue of whether he might indeed have changed history had he avoided conflict with Rome by postponing it - as the Greek historian Polybius believed he should have - and concentrating first on Carthage's own prosperity and safety, is explored in this volume as vigorously as the military questions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Dexter Hoyos is Professor of Classics and Ancient History in the University of Sydney and author of Unplanned Wars: the Origins of the First and Second Punic Wars (1998) and Hannibal's Dynasty: Power and Politics in the Western Mediterranean, 247-183 BC (2003).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Liverpool University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47048035631344,"sku":"9781904675471","price":34.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781904675471_p0.jpg?v=1763613582","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781904675471","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}