Hannibal Barca essays

Hannibal Barca essays Hannibal Barca is a much discussed historical figure whose greatness may be equated with other great military generals like Napoleon or Alexander. This well known Carthaginian hero, who took on the mighty and formidable military power of the Romans and defeated many of their well known generals in war, was a nemesis for the Romans. The fact that they could not neutralize his military prowess even in their own land in which he stayed for fifteen long years, proves his military forethought and shrewdness. Other than the military successes that his long career as a war lord can boast of, Hannibal is also known for his capacities as a well known political administrator and statesman who valued freedom more than Hannibal was instigated against the Romans from a very young age, by his father Hamilcar Barca, who was a great military conqueror himself, and who nursed the desire to beat the Romans at war and destroy their hegemony over his country. Hamilcar Barca saw great potential in his sons who he thought would help him realize his dreams to destroy the Roman Empire. He initiated Hannibal into a life long initiative that would see him attacking The second Punic war is remembered for the unbelievable military exploits of Hannibal. There were many reasons for this. First Hannibal was a young soldier, when he assumed charge of the Carthaginian army. Second, he was waging a war against the Romans, whose legions were considered to be the best in the world. Third, his forces although experts at war were limited in numbers and could not hope to resist the massive numbers of the Roman army. Another very important factor that further highlighted Hannibal's victory was that he had to fight the hostile tribal soldiers on his way to river Po, which caused heavy causalities in his army. It must be said that the second Punic war caught the Romans by surprise because Hannibal crossed th...