Cannae: The Experience of Battle in the Second Punic War : The Experience of Battle in the Second Punic War

Machine generated contents note: List of maps and figures ix Preface viii Acknouwledgements xiii Abbreviations xiv Glossary xvi 1 Introduction: Rome and Carthage 1 2 The road to Cannae 8 Introduction: the origins of the Second Punic War 8 Initial strategies 10 The Carthaginian invasion of Italy 12 Sources 17 Manpower 25 Topography 32 Tactics 35 Conclusion: the consequences of Cannae 45 3 The Roman army 48 Introduction 48 Polybius on the Roman army 54 The organisation of the legions 64 Legionary equipment 70 Light infantry 73 Cavalry 76 The allies 79 Syracusan light troops 79 Conclusion 79 4 The Carthaginian army 81 Introduction 81 Africans 81 Spaniards 84 Gauls 101 Skirmishers 106 Conclusion 112 5 Command at Cannae 113 Introduction 113 The consuls and their staff 119 Hannibal and his staff 123 Preparations for battle 128 The theatre of leadership 134 The commanders' battle 145 6 Cannae: 'The Face of Battle' 156 Introduction 156 Prelude to battle: formations and deployment 156 The physical circumstances of battle 166 Infantry skirmishing 172 Cavalry against cavalry 178 Line infantry against line infantry 184 Encirclement 191 The will to fight 199 Aftermath 201 7 Conclusion 203 Notes 205 Bibliography 236 Index 245. "On a summer's day in 216 BC, the forces commanded by the Carthaginian general Hannibal met the Roman army at Cannae. In spite of being far fewer in number, Hannibal's men nevertheless inflicted a savage defeat on the Romans. How this astonishing victory was achieved has been a constant source of fascination for historians ever since. Cannae: The Experience of Battle in the Second Punic War considers what led the two armies to fight that day, and why they adopted the tactics they did. It explores in detail the composition of the armies, both the Roman militia and their Italian allies on one side, and Hannibal's multinational horde of mercenaries and subject and allied levies on the other. It examines how the opposing generals planned their tactics and led their men, and finally it focuses on the experience of battle. Skirmishing, cavalry and infantry combat, and the final encirclement and annihilation of the Roman forces are all considered. Special attention is paid to what it was actually like to be there, and why men fought in such horrific conditions."--Jacket On a hot and dusty summer's day in 216 BC, the forces of the Carthaginian general Hannibal faced the Roman army in a dramatic encounter at Cannae. Massively outnumbered, the Carthaginians nevertheless won an astonishing victory - one that left more than 50,000 men dead.
Gregory Daly's enthralling study considers the reasons that led the two armies to the field of battle, and why each followed the course that they did when they got there. It explores in detail the composition of the armies, and the tactics and leadership methods of the opposing generals. Finally, by focusing on the experiences of those who fought, Daly gives an unparalleled portrait of the true horror and chaos of ancient warfare.
This striking and vivid account is the fullest yet of the bloodiest battle in ancient history. Content: BOOK COVER; HALF-TITLE; TITLE; DEDICATION; COPYRIGHT; CONTENTS; MAPS AND FIGURES; PREFACE; ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; ABBREVIATIONS; GLOSSARY; 1 INTRODUCTION; 2 THE ROAD TO CANNAE; 3 THE ROMAN ARMY; 4 THE CARTHAGINIAN ARMY; 5 COMMAND AT CANNAE; 6 CANNAE: 'THE FACE OF BATTLE'; 7 CONCLUSION; NOTES; BIBLIOGRAPHY; INDEX. Abstract: Gregory Daly's enthralling study considers the reasons that led the two armies to the field of battle, and why each followed the course that they did when they got there. This striking and vivid account is the fullest yet of the bloodiest battle Carthage was probably founded at some point in the late ninth century BC, as a trading colony established by the Phoenician city of Tyre.