Hannibal Crosses The Alps: The Invasion Of Italy And The Punic WarsWhen he left his Spanish base one spring day in 218 B.C. with his 100,000-man army of mercenaries, officers, and elephants, Hannibal was launching not just the main offensive of the Second Punic War but also one of the great military journeys in ancient history. His masterful advance through rough terrain and fierce Celtic tribes proved his worth as a leader, but it was his extraordinary passage through the Alps—still considered treacherous even by modern climbers—that made him a legend. John Prevas combines rigorous research of ancient sources with his own excursions through the icy peaks to bring to life this awesome trek, solving the centuries-old question of Hannibal's exact route and shedding fresh light on the cultures of Rome and Carthage along the way. Here is the finest kind of history, sure to appeal to readers of Steven Pressfield's Gates of Fire: alive with grand strategy, the clash of empires, fabulous courage, and the towering figure of Hannibal Barca. |
Contents
9 | |
THE RISE OF HANNIBAL | 39 |
THE ANCIENT SOURCES | 65 |
FROM SPAIN TO THE ALPS | 83 |
THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE | 121 |
OVER THE PASS | 143 |
THE WAR IN ITALY | 177 |
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Hannibal Crosses The Alps: The Invasion Of Italy And The Punic Wars John Prevas Limited preview - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
allies Allobroges Alpine ancient sources ancient world animals Arc River attack Barca battle became began Brancus camp Cannae Carthage Carthaginian army Celtic tribes Celts Cenis Clapier climb commander consul crossed the Alps deBeer defeat difficult distance Durance elephants empire enemy eventually Fabius favor fighting Flaminius followed force fought Fourques Gauls gorge Greek Hamilcar Hamilcar Barca Hannibal crossed Hannibal's army Hannibal's March Hasdrubal historians infantry Isère River island Italian Italy land large numbers ledge legions Little St Livy located mercenaries meters miles military Montgenèvre mountain tribes move narrow nearly North Africa northern Italy Numidian cavalry pass Polybius Polybius and Livy Punic Wars Rhône River rock Roman army Roman Senate Rome route Saguntum scholars Scipio scouts second ambush Second Punic Second Punic War Sempronius Sicily side snow soldiers Spain summit terrain territory tion town Trasimene Traversette treaty tribesmen troops valley victory Volcae