INTRODUCTION
This paper discusses about the Second Punic War (B.C 218-201) in three different periods, the Hannibal?s Invasion of Italy from Saguntum to Cannae (B.C. 218-216), Early Victories to Recall of Hannibal, and the Battle of Zama and End of the War (B.C. 201). During each period, the paper will briefly cover about the economic inducements, the inevitability of the conflict, the miscalculation of Roman motives by the Carthaginians, and the character of Hannibal. With the exception of the miscalculation of Roman motives, all of the additional possibilities could be added to the Polybian-Livian causes. According to these two authors, Hannibal perhaps is the key himself, who pressed the issue of war. Thus, the ancients were limited in their analysis by their cultural milieu; however, the ancient causes stand the test of time.
I. FROM SAGUNTUM TO CANNAE (B.C. 218-216)?
The second Punic war was to decide the fate of Rome, and perhaps of Europe. Morey (1901) described the real cause of the war was the growing rivalry between the two great powers that were struggling for supremacy in the western Mediterranean. However, it was directly brought about by the rapid growth of the Carthaginian dominion in Spain (p.111). While Rome was adding to her strength by the conquest of …show more content…
During the three periods, with the exception of the miscalculation of Roman motives, all of the additional possibilities could be added to the Polybian-Livian causes, whom thought Hannibal perhaps pressed the issue of war. Thus, the ancients were limited in their analysis by their cultural milieu; however, the ancient causes stand the test of time. Rome was thus recognized as the mistress of the western Mediterranean. Carthage, although not reduced to a province, became a dependent
This paper discusses about the Second Punic War (B.C 218-201) in three different periods, the Hannibal?s Invasion of Italy from Saguntum to Cannae (B.C. 218-216), Early Victories to Recall of Hannibal, and the Battle of Zama and End of the War (B.C. 201). During each period, the paper will briefly cover about the economic inducements, the inevitability of the conflict, the miscalculation of Roman motives by the Carthaginians, and the character of Hannibal. With the exception of the miscalculation of Roman motives, all of the additional possibilities could be added to the Polybian-Livian causes. According to these two authors, Hannibal perhaps is the key himself, who pressed the issue of war. Thus, the ancients were limited in their analysis by their cultural milieu; however, the ancient causes stand the test of time.
I. FROM SAGUNTUM TO CANNAE (B.C. 218-216)?
The second Punic war was to decide the fate of Rome, and perhaps of Europe. Morey (1901) described the real cause of the war was the growing rivalry between the two great powers that were struggling for supremacy in the western Mediterranean. However, it was directly brought about by the rapid growth of the Carthaginian dominion in Spain (p.111). While Rome was adding to her strength by the conquest of …show more content…
During the three periods, with the exception of the miscalculation of Roman motives, all of the additional possibilities could be added to the Polybian-Livian causes, whom thought Hannibal perhaps pressed the issue of war. Thus, the ancients were limited in their analysis by their cultural milieu; however, the ancient causes stand the test of time. Rome was thus recognized as the mistress of the western Mediterranean. Carthage, although not reduced to a province, became a dependent