Download Hannibal Pamittan

Hannibal’s Career after Zama, the manner and impact of his death and the destruction of
Carthage.
Joshua Pamittan
Hannibal’s Career after Zama
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Was blamed for misconducting second Punic war by Carthage
Permitted to keep his military command.
Appointed a suffete
Reorganised Carthaginian finances
Providing for proper collection of public revenue to pay for huge war indemnity.
Introduced democracy and constitutional reforms.
o Reducing power of judges
Reported to Rome for conspiring with Syria.
Fled from Carthage to escape own government and Roman commission of inquiry.
Fled to Antiochus III who was the ruler of Seleucid Empire and found employment as
a mercenary with him.
Granted a minor naval command and lost a battle with Rhodes, Rome’s Ally.
After Antiochus was defeated, Hannibal fled to Birthynia and was made admiral of
the navy in a war against Peragmum.
o Successful in defeating Pergamum’s fleet in 184.
o Rome intervened and demanded Hannibal’s arrest.
Facing certain capture, Hannibal poisoned himself ending a lifetime’s career of
struggle and enmity against Rome.
Impact and Influence of Hannibal’s career.
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Son born during siege of Saguntum
Public events of his life reveal his personal character. Evidence of Hannibal’s public
life was only recorded by Roman and Greek historians.
o Details of his enemies make one wonder at the personal capacity of this great
commander.
Polybius admires him as a man who could unite diverse forces under one authority
and command his own victory and defeat.
Roman authors see him as a vindictive avenger.
Livy wants to paint Hannibal as a war criminal.
Released prisoners for political reasons, treated respectfully the bodies of fallen
consults.
Undoubtedly brave and confident, praise for his temperance, patience and sobriety.
Strong strategic skills and tactical ingenuity.
Great powers of leadership
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Cared for men horses and elephants.
Painted as genocidal figure. However there is no evidence at all that he would have
done to Rome what they did to Carthage.
Interpretations from Livy and Polybius.
o Livy was Roman nationalist living 200 years after Hannibal.
o Polybius was Greek writer living in Rome.
Destruction of Carthage.
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Marcus Porcius Cato was Roman statesman.
Cato the elder promoted the final destruction of Carthage after realising the
agricultural prosperity that was existing there.
Promoted ideas through verbal speech.
Influence was great although many including Publious Scipio Nasica disagreed with
him about Carthage.
Cato will always be known as the one who began the pillage of Carthage and the
instigator of the Third Punic War.
“Carthago delenda est” was a famous quote by Cato. “Furthermore, I think Carthage
must be destroyed.”
The Third Punic War
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Siege operation
After Roman army landed in Africa 149BC, Carthage surrendered and handed over
hostages and arms.
Rome demanded complete destruction of city.
City Refused
Carthaginians manned walls and defied Romans.
Romans elected young but popular Scipio Aemilianus as consul.
146BC Romans broke through the city and pressed to take the city.
Every building, house and temple had been turned into a stronghold.
Every Carthaginian took up a weapon.
Rome forced to move slowly, capturing city house by house.
Carthage surrendered, 50,000 sold into slavery.
Salt spread around city to destroy agricultural prosperity.
City Levelled