The punic wars were some of the biggest wars of the hellenistic period. Which are the best books to read on military tactics and war. Adopting the weapons and tactics of the hellenistic kingdoms, carthage similarly employed. Carthage went to war against numidia and, in so doing, broke the peace treaty with rome which forbid carthage from mobilizing an army. Such a strategy, however, restricted carthages strongest elements. What sort of tactics did the romans use in defeating hannibal. By rob johnson, author and lecturer in the history of war, oxford university. List of books and articles about military strategy. What really disappointed me was the cool distance from emotional connection ever present in the book. Carthage is an ambitious novel, in terms of subject matter and even language. According to the section on carthages army, most troops were mercenaries, but he makes no elaboration on what this term means. Carthage was the center or capital city of the ancient carthaginian civilization, on the eastern side of the lake of tunis in what is now the tunis governorate in. Leaving his brother, also named hasdrubal, to protect carthages interests in spain and north africa, hannibal assembled a massive army, including according to. The early carthaginian citizen army rank and file used the linothorax but after.
If you want to discover the captivating life of hannibal barca, then keep reading. Prelude to the fall of rome the destruction of carthage. The african economy in emperor edition patch 15, carthage simply has to wait until late game to get an advantage on rome. The defeat forced the carthaginian senate to sue for peace and ended the war. Although carthage s navy was always its main military force, the army acquired a key role in the spread of carthaginian power over the native peoples of northern africa and southern iberian peninsula from the 6th century bc and the 3rd century bc. Joshua hall puts that right with this indepth study of their tactics, equipment, unit organization, army composition and operational effectiveness. Importantly, while the second punic war is rightly given prominence, this is not at the expense of the. There are a myriad of books that you can read about warfare, battles and strategy. Many pieces of greek equipment were used by carthaginians troops, one popular piece being the linothorax, a cuirass made of layers of linen glued together to make a tough shell. Oct 31, 2016 total war warhammer tomb kings lore, army, units and tactics.
One of the names most synonymous with brilliant military strategy is hannibal. Gabriel explains how hannibal turned a multicultural mass of carthaginians, iberians, gauls, and others into one of the most effective armies in history, with which he very nearly destroyed the rising power of rome. Carthaginian armies and their weaponry total war forums. You need to get down the basics of how an army on the move operates and thinks. Shock tactics on the ancient battlefield by vincent lopez. Carthage seniors receive rotc scholarships education. Most of its richer citizens fought armed in greek equipment, although often embellished with uniquely carthaginian features, using the sarissa as their main weapon. Auxiliary unit used to smash skirmishers and light infantry. Massively outnumbered, the carthaginians nevertheless won an astonishing. The mediterranean basin saw the dawn of modern military strategy and tactics. The first mobile instrument to be used as a shock tactic in warfare was the chariot.
Carthage two carthage central high school seniors have been awarded rotc scholarships to florida southern college in lakeland, fla. Carthage s military also allowed it to expand into sardinia and. Carthage, great city of antiquity on the north coast of africa, now a residential suburb of the city of tunis, tunisia. For me, i am sad to say, it is not successful on either account. Sep 23, 2016 32 videos play all warhammer lore army tactics milkandcookiestw total war warhammer dark elves lore, army, units and tactics duration. The osprey books roman battle tactics and cannae can help make up for this. Total war warhammer tomb kings lore, army, units and tactics. Army uses to employ available means to win in combat. This book reexamines the battle of cannae, where about. The armies of carthage permitted the city to forge the most powerful empire in. Both hillary clinton and barack obama studied alinsky extensively as they mapped their individual paths to power. So now is the time to build the economy you need to spam elite stuff youll to use in late game like heavy cav, heavy sword inf, ballista ships, assault navies, and siege. He invaded the homeland of his enemy and remained there, undefeated, for fifteen years.
It was under such leaders as philip ii 382336 bc and alexander the great 356323 bc of macedonia and hannibal 247183 bc of carthage that the first great strides were made in military science. Hello, i wondered if any historical experts could point me in the direction of how best to compose a 20 unit army for using carthage. Resulting from a mighty power struggle between the military confederation of rome and the trading. In the punic wars between rome and carthage, hannibal emerged as the outstanding field commander. With this military juggernaut of the ancient world at your disposal, you will vie for control over italy. The destruction of carthage was an act of roman aggression prompted as much by motives of revenge for earlier wars as by greed for the rich farming lands around the city. There were three punic wars that spanned from 264 to 146 b. At first the rome and carthage were at peace through a series of trading and treaties. When a force is first mustered it is named, given a unique emblem and, from that point on, creates its own legacy through its actions in the field. You should use war elephants any time it is possible to strengthen your army. Carthage is best known for the actions of hannibal in the second punic war.
Military art military history punic wars ancient armor hellenistic period empire romain classical antiquity roman soldiers carthage. The legendary general scipio africanus achieved this, finally destroying the carthaginian army at the climactic victory of zama. I want something the would realistically represent what carthage would field in a battle and i appreciate it cant be perfect due to game limitations, but with the best efforts of what the game gives us, how would a carthage army look when taking to the field. The military of carthage was one of the largest military forces in the ancient world. This is the story of fabius petronius secundusroman legionary and centurionand. Carthage felt it had no choice but to defend itself against masinissas invasions but was censured by rome and ordered to pay a new war debt to numidia. I managed to swipe an osprey book called essential histories. But if i had not, these books still would have given me a priceless education as they have for millions of other people. If one is looking for a good history book that weaves an interesting tale as well as explain the tactics and weapons then hannibal is. It seems that osprey book publishing tend to recycle or overlap old material. Several of these key battles were fought by the armies of ancient greece and rome. This enables the development of traditions that have positive effects in the same way that skills benefit the characters that have them.
In hannibal, perhaps his best book yet, the distinguished military historian richard gabriel examines the life and campaigns of the great carthaginian general in the second punic war. The tactics and strategies of the roman army helped them fend more than half of the world, and thus they came to be known as one of the best armies, which remains unchanged even today. Resulting from a mighty power struggle between the military confederation of rome and the trading empire of carthage between 264241 b. With this military juggernaut of the ancient world at your disposal, you will vie for control over italy, carthage, spain and the mediterranean sea using a. Military strategy is a set of ideas implemented by military organizations to pursue desired strategic goals. According to tradition, carthage was founded by the phoenicians of tyre in 814 bce. Derived from the greek word strategos, the term strategy, when it appeared in use during the 18th century, was seen in its narrow sense as the art of the general, or the art of arrangement of troops. Carthage s military also allowed it to expand into sardinia.
Robert is a crack researcher and storyteller he has a profound ability to explain timeless. The most important carthage unit, used to break enemy lines and to trample enemy troops. Perhaps the most famous carthaginian army was led by hannibal, whose tactics on the way to victory in the battle of cannae are still considered among the most famous in history. Carthage was widely considered the most important trading hub of the ancient mediterranean and was arguably one of the most affluent cities of the classical world. The following historyplex article sheds light on their war strategies in detail. The following historyplex article sheds light on their war.
Which are the best books to read on military tactics and. Roman strategy and tactics from 509 to 202 bc cont. This book contains all the information youll need when researching the various troops and tactics of the punic wars. Carthage seniors receive rotc scholarships education intl. Unfortunately it is not good to stand against enemy cavalry or pikemen. Less than 25% of applicants were offered scholarships, he said. The commander of a carthaginian army in the field rab mahanet was selected for the duration of a specific war, usually from the ruling family. The carthaginian army has a mix of all kinds of troops, because of his high proportion of, spanish and african allies.
May 14, 2018 carthage went to war against numidia and, in so doing, broke the peace treaty with rome which forbid carthage from mobilizing an army. The romans destruction of carthage after the third punic war erased any. Aug 02, 2015 the carthaginian army has a mix of all kinds of troops, because of his high proportion of, spanish and african allies. The first punic war is a record of a dismal wastage of human life and of. Luttwaks the grand strategy of the roman empire does not address the punic wars, as it specifically focuses on the roman army of the empire, so it starts with augustus and it ends with the. Romes strategic victory over the tacticaloperational genius, hannibal barca hannibal barca, general of carthage during the 2d punic war with rome, 218202 bc, has few peers in the annals of military history. Hannibal was known for leading the carthaginian army and a team of elephants across southern europe and the alps mountains against rome in the second punic war. The name punic comes from the word carthaginian in latin. Carthage was the center or capital city of the ancient carthaginian civilization, on the eastern side of the lake of tunis in what is now the tunis governorate in tunisia. Oconnell has established the new standard for studies of the second conflict between rome and carthage.
Under the treaty ending the second punic war, signed after the battle of zama, carthage had to seek roman permission before waging war. He is the real originator of the concept of community organization. The punic wars triggered an era of astonishing human misfortune. Military strategy deals with the planning and conduct of campaigns, the movement. This book provides combattested concepts and ideas modified to exploit emerging army and joint capabilities. The general may often have had complete autonomy of action or, on other occasions, had to rely on the council of 104 and the two most important political persons at carthage, the two suffetes magistrates, for such important decisions as. However, at the end of the 3rd century bc, romes prestige was shattered once more by the genius of hannibal of carthage, causing roman battle tactics to be revised again. The short story of the battle is that a roman army under scipio met and destroyed the carthaginian army under hannibal.
Some traditions are unique to certain factions, affecting aspects of both battles. Carthage continued to flourish, a phoenician colony that outgrew and surpassed its parent land. The book ends with the classic battles of legion verses phalanx thereby coming full cirlce in his tale of carthage and rome, and the struggle of the old greek ways against the emergence of the roman warmachine. He was outnumbered three to one by a force of mostly mounted troops.
As with many nations during the 4th and 3rd centuries bc, hellenistic phalanx tactics had reached carthage and had been embraced. Richard gabriels hannibal is a worthy successor to his books on subotai. The experience of battle in the second punic war 1 by gregory daly isbn. It was under such leaders as philip ii 382336 bc and alexander the great 356323 bc of macedonia and hannibal 247183 bc of carthage that the. A thrilling journey to the core of roman timesthrough a world of extraordinary military tactics and political intriguefrom international bestselling author.
The book therefore spans the centuries from 800bc to 146bc the year carthage was destroyed by the roman legions of scipio africanus the younger. The january 2009 issue of armchair general magazine presents our cover story article, 50 battles that shaped our world. This is a guest post from patrick hunt, author of the new book. A thrilling journey to the core of roman timesthrough a world of extraordinary military tactics and political intriguefrom international bestselling author david gibbins. Retired, thomas piroli, jrotc senior army instructor, winning an rotc scholarship is difficult. He is widely considered one of the greatest military commanders in world history. Apr 23, 20 there are a myriad of books that you can read about warfare, battles and strategy.
Richard the lionheart faced the army of saladin at arsuf in 1191. Hannibal amassed an army in spain and marched his army through the alps into italy in an attempt to capture rome itself. Polybius wrote in the sixth book of his history that the carthaginians were, more exercised in maritime affairs than any other people. Ten of the greatest battlefield tactics, by rob johnson. Carthage by joyce carol oates meet your next favorite book. Rules for radicals, reveille for radicals by saul alinsky. This is the exact opposite of a basic formation hannibals tactic puts the most well trained soldiers on the outside edge where the least t. But hannibal made two major mistakes in dealing with the romans. Strategy, tactics, and innovation the roman army is widely regarded as one of the most effective fighting forces in human history, influencing the development of military tactics for generations afterwards.
Filled with diagrams of attack plans, defensive strategies, and troop movements, u. Elite troops of the sacred band used the linothorax and it was distinctively painted with symbols of tanit, the patron goddess of the unit. Armies of the carthaginian wars 265146 bc menatarms. Publishers weekly oconnell writes with clarity about an era shrouded in speculation. The carthaginian defeat was total and absolute, instilling fear and horror into romes enemies and allies. Total war warhammer the wood elves lore, army, units and. His famous victory at cannae 216 bc over the roman armies is still studied as an example of battlefield tactics. The 33 strategies of war, the 48 laws of power by robert greene. Bc vegetius wrote a summary of military matters which is an important source of information on the roman military. Rome and carthage in the second punic war is a new and innovative turnbased strategy game that puts you in command of the carthaginian military during a period of total war over land and sea with the young roman republic. Of course, i am biased because i trained under robert.
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