Hannibal

Rating:
Summary: Serviceable Introduction to Hannibal and his Campaigns
Review: In the realm of popular history, which should aim to educate while telling an entertaining story, this book outclasses its current competition in the price range.

Baker betrays the 1929 origin of this book in his windy and rather platitudinous political analogies to then-current political science. At times his generalities about Hannibal's (contrasted to Rome's) political philosophy and psychology are confusingly vague. However, he does provide a solid account of the likely cause and course of this almost legendary war-leader's doomed struggle to break Rome's challenge to Carthaginian supremacy in maritime trade.

The descriptions of strategies, battles, outcomes and options are well done. Baker's numerous biographies of ancient emperors and empires usually gave an informed critique of military probabilities.

I prefer this book to that of Leonard Cottrell, its closest competitor. Cottrell is rather disjointed and discursive, trying to blend travelogue with history. Baker sticks to the chronological narrative and is easy to follow, thanks to the now outmoded (but useful) technique of providing topical sub-headings in the margins of each page.

If you are looking for a strictly military account, then try John Lazenby's _Hannibal's War_, now available in a paperback version. If you want a reliable introduction to Hannibal providing good background as well as a review of the military action and diplomatic effects, then Baker is a cut above the others.

He provides sufficient footnotes to elucidate issues where Baker quibbles with his ancient sources, Polybius and Livy or where the two sources can't be reconciled. He shows that he is conversant with the scholarship of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In a work of popular history, the lack of access to scholarly debate since 1929 is not too troubling.

Baker, for example provides and interesting discussion on the way in which Rome most likely managed to build up a fleet to challenge Carthage in short order.

Recommended for high school and college undergraduate collateral reading in courses on Ancient History.