legacy, assessment and interpretations

1. Hannibal legacy, assessment and interpretations

2. Legacy-Rome • Hannibal had a very lasting impact on Roman society • In is said that Hannibal taught the Romans the meaning of fear. Naughty children were threatened with the idea that “Hannibal was coming to get them” • Despite the trivial nature of this point, it demonstrates the psychological impact that Hannibal had on the Romans.

3. Rome’s war with Hannibal caused both negative and positive consequences in both the short and long term • During the war: • Hannibal’s strength at sea forced Rome to adjust to their environment - corvus • They were also forced to into guerrilla tactics, led by FabiusMaximus • The destruction of Carthage in the Third Punic War was a direct impact of Hannibal’s attack on Rome

4. The introduction of boats not only gave them a large advantage during the war, but after enabled them to expand their trade to all over the Mediterranean

5. By the time he was defeated, the bulk of the Italian the Italian countryside was devastated. In response, many rich aristocrats bought up huge tracts of these lands for very little money. • After the war • Because of this, large numbers of peasants migrated to the city, leaving these aristocrats with large masses of land

6. Aside from his immediate impact, Hannibal had a significant effect on military history • Hannibal is still studied today in military academies for his brilliance • With specific reference to Cannae, many military college’s study Hannibal’s tactics and leadership - Phalanx manoeuvre at Cannae at the Australian Defence Force Academy • Hannibal’s leadership also has had an enduring effect. His leadership qualities have been examined throughout history • ‘’No other foreigner made such an impact on Roman history’’ (Livy)

7. Legacy-warfare • The battle has been marked down in military textbooks for two thousand years as the classic example of entrapment • Count Alfred von Schlieffen: German field marshal in the 20th century -His plan was a very large scale strategic readdressing of Hannibal's tactics in the defeat of the French Third Republic and the Russian Empire • Napoleon and Norman Schwarzkopf are both modern examples of generals that incorporated Hannibal’s tactics in their own warfare

8. Legacy-modern day • Hannibal's name is commonplace in art and popular culture, an objective measure of his foreign influence on Western history. • His crossing of the Alps remains one of the most monumental military feats of ancient warfare an is romanticized by several artworks • Art - Hannibal and his Army Crossing the Alps1812 Joseph Turner • Literature – Gulliver’s Travels, satirical work 1726 • Films – Hannibal-Rome's Worst Nightmare, Hannibal vs Rome

9. Assessment • It is difficult to fully assess the life of Hannibal as all the information we have on him is Roman, most of which is subject to bias • However, all sources agree that he was a military genius and is considered “one of the world’s greatest soldiers” Oxford Classical Dictionary • His military genius was demonstrated by: • His extraordinary tactical skill • His capacity for leadership which commanded the loyalty of mercenary troops • Threatening the existence of Rome

10. One the greatest testament to Hannibal’s leadership is that he never faced mutiny or lost the confidence of his men

11. His greatness is manifested through his legacy throughout the modern and ancient world - Napoleon praising Hannibal very highly, complimenting him on his military tactics and his audacity • Maximilian Otto Bismarck Caspari, a prestigious university lecturer praises Hannibal highly: -“The transcendent military genius of Hannibal there cannot be two opinions. For steadfastness of purpose, for organizing capacity and a mastery of military science he has perhaps never had an equal”

12. Interpretations-ancient • There are two main ancient texts of Hannibal's route: • - Titus Livius (Livy) • - Polybius • - Others include Plutarch, Appian and Cicero • These historians’ accounts remain fairly uniform however some differences are evident. • The reason for these differences is due largely to the motive and perspective of both these historians. • Polybius was a Greek historian/writer living in Rome, where Livy on the other hand lived 200 years after Hannibal.

13. Livy is a less reliable source than Polybius as he used other eyewitness accounts to write his own account of particular events • Livy had little experience of war and politics and very often biased towards Rome • What Livy accounts on Hannibal: • When he was younger • Crossing the alps • Main battles between Carthage and Rome • Death

14. Livy’s account of Hannibal depicts him as extremely cruel, which conflicts with other accounts from historians • Livy wants to portray Hannibal was a war criminal and to demonize him. Livy writes of Hannibal upon seeing blood “Oh what a lovely sight!” Livy understands Hannibal as a cannibal, cruel and ultimately power hungry individual According to Livy, Hannibal's military genius was feared among the Romans

15. Polybius is seen as a very reliable source as he was often an eyewitness to the events he recounted. He also had access to official Roman documents because of his privileged position in Rome However he tended to display bias in his treatment of Scipio Aemilianus, but was clearly sympathetic to Hannibal Polybius spent a long period as a hostage in Italy and relied heavily on Roman sources

16. Polybius’ and Livy’s account mostly compliment each other, with only small differences in their accounts • Polybius conversely, is far more detached and thus historical • Polybius also has great admiration for Hannibal’s leadership qualities. Polybius describes Hannibal as a true leader working hard and fighting from the front thus sharing the dangers and leading from the front

17. Most of the sources available to historians about Hannibal are from Romans. They considered him the greatest enemy Rome had ever faced

18. Interpretations-modern • The modern historians or tacticians sited are on the whole far more balanced • Theodore Ayrault Dodge (May 28, 1842 – 1909) was an American officer and military historian and thus analyses Hannibal -“Hannibal excelled as a tactician. No battle in history is a finer sample of tactics than Cannae” and called Hannibal the "father of strategy” • Modern interpretations of Hannibal are also conveyed through generals, such as Napoleon, Schwarzkopf and Schlieffen

19. Bibliography • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannibal • www.livius.org/ha-hd/hannibal/hannibal.html • ancienthistory.about.com/od/hannibal/p/Hannibal.htm • www.angelfire.com/rebellion/historicalheros/hannibal.html • www.phoenician.org/carthage_hannibal_barca.htm • Hannibal : a history of the art of war among the Carthaginians and Romans down to the Battle of Pydna, 168 B.C – Dodge, Theodore Ayrault • YouTube – Hannibal - Rome’s worst nightmare • Antiquity 3 – HSC textbook, Oxford