Week 5: Daily Blog Day 1 – Monday, March 14, 2011

Daily Blog Day 1 – Monday, March 14, 2011

Question: Please write a brief biography of Hannibal and explain whether or not you think his reputation (in Roman eyes) as a monster was deserved.

            Hannibal was a Carthaginian General in the Second Punic War. He was a feared war enemy and was known throughout Rome. The ancient days’ boogie monster was his role in the Roman households, but was this really deserved? Did Hannibal deserve this title of a monster or was he simply fighting for his country? As a child, Hannibal was raised to abhor Rome. His father began making him hate the Romans at birth. At one point it is believed that Hannibal’s father took him and made him swear a blood oath against Rome. This in itself definitely seems to be a start of a deep rivalry and hatred towards Rome. It may have been that his important role in history would not have even existed if his father had not hated Rome as much as he did to instill it in his son.  Most notably in his if though is a short moment in time during the Second Punic War. Hannibal traveled with his army which consisted not only of soldiers, but also war elephants beginning in Iberia to northern Italy. This is traveling over the Pyrenees and the Alps. This, itself, was a remarkable achievement. Making allies and conquering battles, Hannibal left an impressionable mark on history only in his first few years in Italy. Some of the more famous and dramatic battles were the victories Trebia, Trasimene, and Cannae. Trough out his fifteen years in Italy, he managed to become extremely famous. A Roman counter-invasion of North Africa, although, had to return home to help fight against and ultimately defeat them in their attacks. Most famously was the battle of Cannae in which Hannibal’s army completely demolished the huge Roman army in a well-designed military approach. Hannibal’s military tactics during his time were extremely well thought out and placed him up there with the famous generals like Alexander the Great. In my opinion, he does not deserve the title of monster. I know if he were attacking my country I may come to think that, but then again he was a great leader and military man. He won some important and complex battles probably mostly due to his outside of the box tactics and great thinking. Hannibal should also be seen for this, not just a monster.