Hannibal Crosses the Alps: The Invasion of Italy and the Second Punic War

When he left his Spanish base one spring day in 218 B.C. with his 100,000-man army of mercenaries, officers, and elephants, Hannibal was launching not just the main offensive of the Second Punic War but also one of the great military journeys in ancient history. His masterful advance through rough terrain and fierce Celtic tribes proved his worth as a leader, but it was his extraordinary passage through the Alps—still considered treacherous even by modern climbers—that made him a legend. John Prevas combines rigorous research of ancient sources with his own excursions through the icy peaks to bring to life this awesome trek, solving the centuries-old question of Hannibal's exact route and shedding fresh light on the cultures of Rome and Carthage along the way. Here is the finest kind of history, sure to appeal to readers of Steven Pressfield's Gates of Fire: alive with grand strategy, the clash of empires, fabulous courage, and the towering figure of Hannibal Barca. Contents 6 List of Maps 7 Acknowledgments 8 Who's Who in the Punic Wars 10 Chronology 14 Introduction 18 I. Carthage and Rome 26 II. The Rise Of Hannibal 56 III. The Ancient Sources 82 IV. from Spain to the Alps 100 V. The Eye of the Needle 146 VI. Over the Pass 168 VII. The War In Italy 202 Epilogue 236 Select Bibliography 246 Index 250 By physically retracing Hannibal's path through the Alps and by exploring alternatives through these mountains, Prevas is able to shed new light on the impact of this ancient military maneuver Discusses how Spanish military leader Hannibal Barca led his army across the Alps into Italy during the second Punic War in 218 B.C According to legend, a Phoenician noblewoman named Elissa, who possessed exceptional beauty and intelligence, founded Carthage.