Hannibal's March: Alps and Elephants
by Gavin R. De Beer
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Description
One of the mysteries surrounding Hannibal's famous march on Rome during the Second Punic War is the actual route his Carthaginian army took from Spain across the Alps and onto the plains of Italy. Even during Julius Caesar's time it was the subject of much speculation. The march is popularly known for both the elephants that accompanied the expedition and the use of heat and vinegar to break boulders that blocked their way, but it was not until 1955 that Gaving R. De Beer, Director of the show more British Museum, established what is considered to be the most probable route Hannibal's army took. The author not only scoured ancient accounts, he consulted astronomers, geologists, climatologists, and philologists, and retraced the route himself using classical sources and the information supplied by experts as his guide. The result is a delightful, erudite account, reprinted here for the first time in paperback. "A book in which lively writing and scholarly research are happily mated. Moreover, it is convincing."--New York Times "The most notable quality in this study--apart from its sturdy practicality and common sense--is the readiness with which its author avails himself of the most diverse varieties of evidence."--Times Literary Supplement "Those who read this book will discover that, as treated by Sir Gavin, the subject is a fascinating one. Here is no parched parchment study, but an on-the-spot exploration of roads and rivers daily traversed by thousands."--Christian Science Monitor show lessTags
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Where did the army of Hannibal cross the alps? Livy is more than a little vague. De Beer is familiar with the Alps, and tries to answer that question...thus, an amusing foray into classical history.
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33+ Works 345 Members
Common Knowledge
Classifications
- Genres
- History, Nonfiction, Anthropology, Biography & Memoir, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 937.04 — History & geography History of ancient world (to ca. 499) Italian Peninsula to 476 and adjacent territories to 476 Punic wars 264-146 B.C.
- LCC
- DG247.2 .D4 — History of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania City History of Italy Ancient Italy. Rome to 476 History By period Kings and Republic, 753-27 B.C. Republic, 509-27 Conquest of Mediterranean world. 264-133 First and Second Punic Wars. Illyrian
- BISAC
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- 26
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- 1,005,932
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.00)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 2
- ASINs
- 3
