Naval War College Review Volume 71

Article 18

Number 2 Spring

2018

Hannibal

Timothy J. Demy

Patrick N. Hunt

Follow this and additional works at: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review Recommended Citation

Demy, Timothy J. and Hunt, Patrick N. (2018) "Hannibal," Naval War College Review: Vol. 71 : No. 2 , Article 18.

Available at: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol71/iss2/18

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NAVA L WA R C O L L E G E R E V I E W Demy and Hunt: Hannibal Ullman’s main points are sound, even

power. The author also offers a variety difficult to disagree with. But most of of other, less controversial, unsystematic the points are not new. Furthermore, the proposals. Depending on one’s perspec-book at times reads like a laundry list of tive, the reader may find the book’s argu-things and people with which the author ments to be somber and discouraging,

does not agree; he often voices this

to constitute a passionate call for action, disagreement but provides little depth

or perhaps simply to represent a realistic or analysis. He bounces around among

paradigm for the present day. Whichever multiple topics somewhat chaotically,

way, Ullman’s book is a worthwhile read, from Vladimir Putin to presidential in-and national security experts should

experience to Iran’s nuclear ambitions to consider his conceptual arguments.

universal voting, and so forth. He wades JEREMY SNELLEN

into cyber. Climate change gets its own chapter. Infrastructure investment holds critical importance to him. And then the author tries to relate most of this back to the First World War. Sometimes the

Hannibal, by Patrick N. Hunt. New York: Simon historical comparison has coherence, but

& Schuster, 2017. 362 pages. $28.

at other times it does not work as well.

The ancient historian Polybius cautioned Nevertheless, the book structures itself against writing about a place to which

in a unique way and provides a powerful one had not been, and Hannibal

argument for critical reform in the

biographer and author Patrick N. Hunt

national security arena—even as the

has heeded this warning. An archaeolo-

author himself notes it is unlikely his gist and historian who has taught at

reforms will be implemented. Particu-

Stanford University since 1993, Hunt

larly penetrating are the reasons given has walked and studied every major

for why the current national security ap-Hannibal battlefield and tracked the

paratus is unsuitable to the task. The rate military leader’s routes from Carthage

of government development has not kept

through Spain, France, Italy, and Turkey.

up with the pace at which challenges are The National Geographic Society’s

arising and the complexity of the world Expedition Council sponsored Hunt’s

is increasing. Ullman argues that this

2007 and 2008 Hannibal expeditions.

has been demonstrated by the derelict

His archaeological fieldwork has

mismanagement of the wars in Iraq

concentrated on Hannibal for decades,

and Afghanistan, the haphazard drone

and from 1994 to 2012 he was director

policy, and the government’s present vul-of the Stanford Alpine Archaeology

nerability to cyber attacks. To meet these Project, leading expeditions in the Alps challenges, our government’s new course to explore routes Hannibal might have

of strategic thinking must effectuate

taken on his march on Rome. Hunt

a restructuring on par with the 1947

thus comes to the topic with decades

National Security Act. We must reform

of research, and this new biography

NATO into a multilateral institution

is a welcome addition to the study of

capable of countering modern threats.

Hannibal and his methods of warfare.

Ullman argues for creating new metrics

The result is a well-written study

for measuring and understanding state

delivered via an engaging narrative.

Published by U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons, 2018

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B O O K R E V I E W S

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Naval War College Review, Vol. 71 [2018], No. 2, Art. 18

Hunt provides a balanced and informa-

are thorough and interesting (note

tive biography of a leader whom many

particularly his comments on Hannibal’s regard as a military genius, analyzing

eye disorder in the Arno marshes in

Hannibal’s weaknesses as well as

the spring of 217 BCE and the military

his strengths. When people think of

technology of Archimedes at Syracuse

Hannibal, it is usually in reference to his in 214–212 BCE), providing ample

use of elephants in the Alps in 218 BCE, information and explanatory details

but there is much more to the famous

for those who want to go deeper into

leader than this daunting mountain

specific topics. He does this without

trek. Hannibal was born about 247

meanderings in the body of the text. The BCE and was raised in the aftermath

result is a delightful book to read and of the bitter defeat of Carthage by

study. For this reviewer, the chapters on Rome in the First Punic War. He was

Hannibal in the Alps (chapter 9), the

reared by his father, Hamilcar Barca, a battle of Cannae (15), and the march on Carthaginian general and statesman,

Rome (17) were the most captivating.

to make and carry through on a vow

Chapters on the campaign for southern

to defeat Rome. Hunt’s first chapter is Italy (16), the battle of Zama (22), and dedicated to that vow to take revenge

Hannibal’s exile (23) may be the most

against the Romans, which was taken

instructive for current military leaders, in the Temple of Baal in Carthage. At

as Hunt describes Hannibal’s inability to other places throughout the work Hunt

reach a satisfying conclusion swiftly. He reminds readers of the importance of

was a pragmatic leader and victorious

religion in Roman and Punic cultures,

in battle, but he could not win the war.

and recounts its use by Hannibal and

Hunt understands the battle of Cannae

Roman civic and military leaders

(216 BCE) as Hannibal’s pinnacle, but

throughout the Second Punic War.

points out that it was also, ultimately, his Hannibal’s father died when Hannibal

undoing—the beginning of a ten-year

was in his teens, but the young man had occupation of southern Italy that

learned well from him and rose quickly

gradually wore him down. Afterward he

as a military leader. Determined and

would be recalled to Carthage to fight

growing in power, Hannibal began a

the battle of Zama (202 BCE), a victory nearly two-decade war against Rome.

for Rome and Scipio Africanus that

Hunt contends that Hannibal had

brought an end to the Second Punic War.

“an ability to understand and exploit

Hunt is at his best in showing how

weaknesses” (p. 24) and that he used

Hannibal skillfully used nature,

that skill throughout his career. Coupled geography, and weather to enhance his

with his ability to make accurate military military strategies and planning. Of

observations and assessments, this made special interest to naval historians is him into a formidable foe against Rome.

Hunt’s analysis of how, during the long In his account Hunt balances quite

campaign in southern Italy, Roman na-

well the many classical sources, such as val superiority prevented Hannibal from Polybius and Livy, with contemporary

securing the support of allies through

scholarship. His biography flows at

diplomacy. Despite Hannibal’s success

a good pace and provides readers a

in building coalitions, his skillful use of well-documented work. His endnotes

intelligence, and his ability to adapt new https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol71/iss2/18

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NAVA L WA R C O L L E G E R E V I E W Demy and Hunt: Hannibal weapons technologies, he lacked the

chapter subsections and use of dates

diplomatic skills to sustain his resources throughout the narrative help keep

and thereby defeat his lifelong foe.

the reader on track. The volume

Hunt’s Hannibal has excellent maps is tremendous and highly recom-as well as an extensive bibliography.

mended for the library of any military

A brief chronology would have been

professional or military historian.

helpful for a quick overview, but the

TIMOTHY J. DEMY

O U R R E V I E W E R S

Timothy J. Demy is a professor of military ethics at the Naval War College. He is a retired Navy chaplain and graduate of the Naval War College, College of Naval Warfare. Among other graduate degrees, he received the ThM and ThD from Dallas Theological Seminary and the MA and PhD

from Salve Regina University. He is the author and editor of numerous articles and books.

Thomas J. Gibbons has worked for the associate provost at the Naval War College since 2008.

He is a retired Army colonel and has a BS from the U.S. Military Academy, an MS from George Washington University, an MA from the Naval War College, and an EdD from Johnson & Wales University.

(Note: Dr. Gibbons worked for Colonel David Brostrom, father of Lieutenant Jonathan Brostrom, who was killed at the battle of Wanat.) Charles T. Lewis is a graduate of the University of Washington and a surface warfare officer. He served as electrical officer on USS Milius (DDG 69) and navigator on USS Denver (LPD 9). He is currently a surface navigation instructor at Surface Warfare Officers School Command in Newport, Rhode Island, and is studying for a degree from the Naval War College.

Christopher Nelson is a naval intelligence officer stationed at the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He earned his undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Tulsa and is a graduate of the Naval War College and the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Advanced Warfighting School in Newport, Rhode Island.

Richard J. Norton is a professor of national security affairs at the Naval War College. He is a retired naval officer and holds a PhD from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.

His most recent publications include articles in the Naval War College Review and Marine Corps University Journal.

Jeremy Snellen, JAG Corps, USN, currently serves as a staff judge advocate at Fort Meade, Mary-land. Previous assignments include tours in Norfolk, Bahrain, and Afghanistan. He is a candidate for the master of arts degree in national security and strategic studies at the Naval War College, in the Fleet Seminar Program. Previously, he completed degree programs at both the University of Missouri and Syracuse University.

Stephen K. Stein earned his PhD in military history from the Ohio State University and is currently the associate chair of the History Department of the University of Memphis. His latest book is The Sea in World History: Exploration, Travel, and Trade (ABC-CLIO, 2017).

Published by U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons, 2018

3

Document Outline

Naval War College Review

2018

Hannibal

Timothy J. Demy

Patrick N. Hunt

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