Scipio Africanus: Rome's Greatest GeneralThe world often misunderstands its greatest men while neglecting others entirely. Scipio Africanus, surely the greatest general that Rome produced, suffered both these fates. Today scholars celebrate the importance of Hannibal, even though Scipio defeated the legendary general in the Second Punic War and was the central military figure of his time. In this scholarly and heretofore unmatched military biography of the distinguished Roman soldier, Richard A. Gabriel establishes Scipio's rightful place in military history as the greater of the two generals. Before Scipio, few Romans would have dreamed of empire, and Scipio himself would have regarded such an ambition as a danger to his beloved republic. And yet, paradoxically, Scipio's victories in Spain and Africa enabled Rome to consolidate its hold over Italy and become the dominant power in the western Mediterranean, virtually ensuring a later confrontation with the Greco-Macedonian kingdoms to the east as well as the empire's expansion into North Africa and the Levant. The Roman imperium was being born, and it was Scipio who had sired it. Gabriel draws upon ancient texts, including those from Livy, Polybius, Diodorus, Silius Italicus, and others, as primary sources and examines all additional material available to the modern scholar in French, German, English, and Italian. His book offers a complete bibliography of all extant sources regarding Scipio's life. The result is a rich, detailed, and contextual treatment of the life and career of Scipio Africanus, one of Rome's greatest generals, if not the greatest of them all. |
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LibraryThing Review
Avis d'utilisateur - hellbent - LibraryThingThis biography was very thoroughly researched by a very experienced military historian. It contains very detailed accounts, with maps of several battles during the Second Punic War and includes much ... Consulter l'avis complet
LibraryThing Review
Avis d'utilisateur - la2bkk - LibraryThingAn outstanding analysis of Roman general Scipio Africanus' contribution towards Rome's victory over Carthage in the Second Punic War. Combining the various ancient sources with modern scholarship, the ... Consulter l'avis complet
Table des matières
4Scipios Spanish Campaign | |
6The African Campaign | |
7Scipio and Hannibal | |
8Triumph and Fall | |
9Scipios Place in Military History | |
Notes | |
Bibliography | |
Index | |
About the Author | |
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Expressions et termes fréquents
Africa allies ancient Antiochus Antiochus’s army’s arrived attack Baecula battle battle of Ilipa battlefield camp campaign Cannae captured Carthage Carthage’s Carthaginian Carthaginian armies Carthaginian commanders cavalry city’s combat consul defeat deployed elephants enemy enemy’s engage fight Flamininus flanks fleet force fought Foundation front Greece Greek Hannibal Hannibal’s Hannibal’s army Hasdrubal Hasdrubal’s hastati Histories of Polybius History of Rome horses hundred Ibid Ilipa invasion Italicus Italy Kromayer and Veith Laelius legions light infantry Livy Livy says Livy tells Livy’s Locri logistics Lucius Mago Mago’s maneuver maniples manpower Massinissa mercenaries miles military moved naval Numidian phalanx Philip political Polybius’s quinquereme Roman army Roman cavalry Roman commander Rome’s Scipio Africanus Scipio’s army Scullard Second Punic Second Punic War Senate sent ships Sicily soldiers Spain Spanish tribes strategic supply Syphax tactical Tarraco thousand cavalry thousand infantry town trained transports Trebia triarii tribal troops Utica victory Zama

