What do you think?
Rate this book
Osprey Essential Histories #16
The Punic Wars 264–146 BC
The three Punic Wars lasted over 100 years, between 264 BC and 146 BC. They represented a struggle for supremacy in the Mediterranean between the bludgeoning land power of Rome, bent on imperial conquest, and the great maritime power of Carthage with its colonies and trading posts spread around the Mediterranean. This book reveals how the dramas and tragedies of the Punic Wars exemplify many political and military lessons which are as relevant today as when Hannibal and Scipio Africanus fought to determine the course of history in the Mediterranean.
96 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2002
7 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Nigel Bagnall
10 books2 followersField Marshal Sir Nigel Thomas Bagnall, GCB, CVO, MC (10 February 1927 – 8 April 2002) was a career British Army officer who served as Commander-in-Chief of the British Army of the Rhine, from 1983 to 1985, and then as Chief of the General Staff (CGS), the professional head of the British Army, from 1985 to 1988. Early in his military career he saw action during the Palestine Emergency, the Malayan Emergency, the Cyprus Emergency and the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation, and later in his career he provided advice to the British Government on the future role of Britain's nuclear weapons.
In retirement he became a military historian and fellow of Balliol College, Oxford. He wrote a history of the Punic wars published in 1990 and, two years after his death, he had a history of the Peloponnesian War published.
In retirement he became a military historian and fellow of Balliol College, Oxford. He wrote a history of the Punic wars published in 1990 and, two years after his death, he had a history of the Peloponnesian War published.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 25, 2023
I like this series a lot and I think it's excellent for people that are curious about various events in history and want an introduction to those events, or just don't have the time to delve deeper!
As it's obvious from the title, this one focuses on the Punic wars between the Roman Republic and the Empire of Carthage!
While I was familiar with the timeline of events, the book added a lot of context, trying to explain the causes of the war and also the aftermath.
Some interesting things I got from this:
- Carthage was mainly a commercial empire, its land army not being on par with the economic might it had;
- neither Carthage nor Rome had any preplanned intentions of going to war with each other, there were, actually, three previous treaties between the two according to which both sides should assist each other in case of need;
- the first war started only because Rome saw an opportunity in expanding to Sicily (it's oversimplified, but this was the trigger);
- before the wars, the Roman Republic consisted of a confederation of states and Rome didn't receive tribute in money until it conquered Sicily; the monetary tribute from Sicily acted as a catalyst and put Rome on a course to expanding into an empire in the making;
- Carthage had a bigger and more flourishing civilization than that which I grasped back in my history class;
- Northern Africa was covered in luxuriant forests and had a fertile land at the time of the wars (I always had the impression this was the case way earlier in time);
- Carthage colonies, unlike the Greek ones, only settled on the coasts and focused only on commerce;
- the Carthage navy was the largest and most powerful at the time, while Rome had no military navy to speak of at the beginning of the war, but it prompted them to build, in a short time span, a naval force that would match and surpass that of their opponents;
- Hannibal was one of the greatest military generals of ancient time, but, by the time of his decisive loss against the Romans, who were being lead by a much younger and vigorous Scipio Africanus, he was worn out by decades of war.
- Rome destroyed Carthage so utterly and decisively that no Carthaginian text or writing survived, all the information we have are from roman/greek sources and archeological evidence.
After finishing this I'm curious to learn more about Carthage and this gets me to why I'm only giving this book only 3 stars: it's too short, even if it's meant to be like this, I would've liked some more information and analysis.
As it's obvious from the title, this one focuses on the Punic wars between the Roman Republic and the Empire of Carthage!
While I was familiar with the timeline of events, the book added a lot of context, trying to explain the causes of the war and also the aftermath.
Some interesting things I got from this:
- Carthage was mainly a commercial empire, its land army not being on par with the economic might it had;
- neither Carthage nor Rome had any preplanned intentions of going to war with each other, there were, actually, three previous treaties between the two according to which both sides should assist each other in case of need;
- the first war started only because Rome saw an opportunity in expanding to Sicily (it's oversimplified, but this was the trigger);
- before the wars, the Roman Republic consisted of a confederation of states and Rome didn't receive tribute in money until it conquered Sicily; the monetary tribute from Sicily acted as a catalyst and put Rome on a course to expanding into an empire in the making;
- Carthage had a bigger and more flourishing civilization than that which I grasped back in my history class;
- Northern Africa was covered in luxuriant forests and had a fertile land at the time of the wars (I always had the impression this was the case way earlier in time);
- Carthage colonies, unlike the Greek ones, only settled on the coasts and focused only on commerce;
- the Carthage navy was the largest and most powerful at the time, while Rome had no military navy to speak of at the beginning of the war, but it prompted them to build, in a short time span, a naval force that would match and surpass that of their opponents;
- Hannibal was one of the greatest military generals of ancient time, but, by the time of his decisive loss against the Romans, who were being lead by a much younger and vigorous Scipio Africanus, he was worn out by decades of war.
- Rome destroyed Carthage so utterly and decisively that no Carthaginian text or writing survived, all the information we have are from roman/greek sources and archeological evidence.
After finishing this I'm curious to learn more about Carthage and this gets me to why I'm only giving this book only 3 stars: it's too short, even if it's meant to be like this, I would've liked some more information and analysis.
July 26, 2020
Excellent book about the 3 punic wars, and their consequences, it even have a special part about the effects on the economy, and it is what i think is the most interesting.
September 20, 2022
I knew Carthage was going to be defeated because I did learn that in school. However I kept rooting for them anyways. And finally I got to read more about Hannibal and his war elephants.
The clash between Carthage and Rome, with Carthage’s subsequent loss to Rome, totally changed the kind of world that has been handed down to us right up to the present day. It affected Europe with its creation of Roman Catholicism and the Holy Roman Empire and those effects have not dissipated.
The clash between Carthage and Rome, with Carthage’s subsequent loss to Rome, totally changed the kind of world that has been handed down to us right up to the present day. It affected Europe with its creation of Roman Catholicism and the Holy Roman Empire and those effects have not dissipated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2018
The Punic wars saw the destruction of the ancient civilization of Carthage and the triumph of Rome. Due to the absolute destruction it is difficult to know the Carthage side of this conflict but the author guides us through the battles of Hannibal and Scipio and the impacts of the conflicts.
There were a few more double page spreads of pictures, which would have been better as useful maps of some of the larger battles - the book felt like it was below word count and the pictures added later, as some of the modern ones added little to the understanding of the conflict.
Despite that, interesting and informative.
There were a few more double page spreads of pictures, which would have been better as useful maps of some of the larger battles - the book felt like it was below word count and the pictures added later, as some of the modern ones added little to the understanding of the conflict.
Despite that, interesting and informative.
June 16, 2024
Despite the Limitations Imposed on it by its too Short Length Still Excellent
Any review of this book would have to start out by pointing out that it is part of Osprey Publishing's “Essential Histories” series. As such it is relatively short, at only 96 pages in length. Of these 96 pages, very roughly, a third or so are taken up by illustrations of one type or another (i.e. Maps, photographs of statues of leading figures, etc.). Hence if one is looking for a lengthy academic tome on the subject this book is not it. This is especially the case considering that the three Punic Wars the book covers were each lengthy and occurred over the course of about 110 years. Full compendium books in the “Essential Histories" series on the US Civil War, Napoleonic Wars and World Wars One and Two, wars that were much shorter, consist of books that contain,
depending on the war covered, from four to six volumes. For example, the one that covers the US Civil War contains four books from the “Essential Histories” series.
Hence the relevant question to ask is “how does the book do in terms of the limitations imposed on its by its short length"? The answer is excellent. It provides an excellent, albeit succinct, analysis and discussion on the causes of each war, how each progressed, and the major reasons for why the wars concluded as they did. Again, this is not done in a very in-depth way but in a very succinct high-level way. Perfect for anyone wanting to get up to speed on the topic in the two or so hours it takes to read.
Any review of this book would have to start out by pointing out that it is part of Osprey Publishing's “Essential Histories” series. As such it is relatively short, at only 96 pages in length. Of these 96 pages, very roughly, a third or so are taken up by illustrations of one type or another (i.e. Maps, photographs of statues of leading figures, etc.). Hence if one is looking for a lengthy academic tome on the subject this book is not it. This is especially the case considering that the three Punic Wars the book covers were each lengthy and occurred over the course of about 110 years. Full compendium books in the “Essential Histories" series on the US Civil War, Napoleonic Wars and World Wars One and Two, wars that were much shorter, consist of books that contain,
depending on the war covered, from four to six volumes. For example, the one that covers the US Civil War contains four books from the “Essential Histories” series.
Hence the relevant question to ask is “how does the book do in terms of the limitations imposed on its by its short length"? The answer is excellent. It provides an excellent, albeit succinct, analysis and discussion on the causes of each war, how each progressed, and the major reasons for why the wars concluded as they did. Again, this is not done in a very in-depth way but in a very succinct high-level way. Perfect for anyone wanting to get up to speed on the topic in the two or so hours it takes to read.
September 30, 2024
The studies of the Punic Wars are the studies of Carthage. Because there are no other existing records in situ, which goes to tell us the upshot of a total wipeout. I came to appreciate that the legacy of a forgotten civilisation is so militant and solemn.
Nigel Bagnall warned against dominations, both in the senses of a will to dominate and a state of hegemony. The former could be said to lead the two amiable civilisations to wars. Rather subliminally, the latter contributed to the internalisation of hostilities, then civil wars, and eventually the sack of Rome.
In a relatively safe place as I live, much as I had nodded to his teachings I couldn’t relate. Rather more pressing is the dynamics in play. It is purely wrong to describe the casus belli of the First Punic War as expansion. The vested interests had their concerns, be it familial or merchant. When and how they reacted was the less explored domain of things. That escalations can happen without a good reason, is perhaps a neglected issue.
Nigel Bagnall warned against dominations, both in the senses of a will to dominate and a state of hegemony. The former could be said to lead the two amiable civilisations to wars. Rather subliminally, the latter contributed to the internalisation of hostilities, then civil wars, and eventually the sack of Rome.
In a relatively safe place as I live, much as I had nodded to his teachings I couldn’t relate. Rather more pressing is the dynamics in play. It is purely wrong to describe the casus belli of the First Punic War as expansion. The vested interests had their concerns, be it familial or merchant. When and how they reacted was the less explored domain of things. That escalations can happen without a good reason, is perhaps a neglected issue.
July 23, 2020
De ce timp de peste un secol Roma s-a razboit cu Imperiul Cartaginez?
Din simplul motiv ca exista o "predispozitie culturala" a marilor puteri de a se razboi si de a se extinde.
Un "complex" al luptei cu scopul final al unei suprematii absolute, dar pana la urma vremelnice.
Razboaiele punice se puteau intampla oricand si oriunde: in Irak, in Iran, in Vietnam, in Somalia, in Coreea, in Crimeea...
Dar pentru ca istoria era inca tanara s-au intamplat in locul hotarat de hazardul ruletei Timp.
Pentru epoca aceea ruleta s-a numit Cartagina si Roma.
Din simplul motiv ca exista o "predispozitie culturala" a marilor puteri de a se razboi si de a se extinde.
Un "complex" al luptei cu scopul final al unei suprematii absolute, dar pana la urma vremelnice.
Razboaiele punice se puteau intampla oricand si oriunde: in Irak, in Iran, in Vietnam, in Somalia, in Coreea, in Crimeea...
Dar pentru ca istoria era inca tanara s-au intamplat in locul hotarat de hazardul ruletei Timp.
Pentru epoca aceea ruleta s-a numit Cartagina si Roma.
November 14, 2020
Good overview of a pivotal historical period that saw Rome come to be both the dominant power in Italy and then the Western Mediterranean. It is interesting that despite the classic documents and modern archeology, there are still significant things that we do not know about the period. Rome destroyed Carthage so utterly at the end of the Punic Wars that we know little from their side. The Punic Wars remain a subject from which there is much that we can learn of democracy, diplomacy, colonialism, personal ambition, and other enduring aspects of our human condition.
November 12, 2019
This book serves well as an overview of the Punic Wars for those new to the subject. Bagnall does well to evoke the emotions and gravity of the situation for both Rome and Carthage, captivating the reader and enticing them to read further.
June 17, 2022
Everything you wanted to know about the Punic Wars. We used this for our Classical Rhetoric homeschool history studies.
April 15, 2023
More maps and artwork from Osprey artists would have made this a stronger book.
November 6, 2014
The century of wars between Rome (then in its “adolescent” phase) and the great Phoenician mercantile empire based at Carthage is not a major area of study among today’s history students, but as an undergrad Classical History major (an academic strategic error I later corrected), I spent an entire semester sorting out what all happened, and why, and what the immediate and long-term results were. I sure wish I’d had this book. The author had a long and varied career in the British army, ending up as Chief of the General Staff, and was subsequently a Fellow in military history at Balliol. And it’s clear he knows his stuff. He carefully lays out the historical background of the two contending cultures and the strategic geography with which they had to deal, and also their very different attitudes toward military action. Each of the three wars (separated by brief periods of breath-catching if not actual peace) consisted of simultaneous operations in different theaters, but Bagnall prefers to follow each from beginning to end, then to backtrack a bit for the next one. Given the complexity of the whole contest, this was probably the best approach. While giving full attention to the personalities involved -- especially Hannibal and Scipio Africanus -- he’s more interested in the social and political forces behind the war.
This more recent series by Osprey is longer than their others, running to 96 pages. It departs from their earlier practice of putting all the color plates in one signature (a production decision based on economics) and has spread color illustrations throughout the volume. Unfortunately, those which reproduce present-day photos of battle sites (as opposed to photos of paintings and sculpture) tend not to be very well reproduced, which pulls down the overall quality of the work. There are also way too many typos and questionable spellings and dates, which could have been avoided by closer attention to copyediting. Still Bagnall has done an excellent job of providing a concise introduction to a complicated subject, which is exactly what Osprey aims to do in all its series. And there’s a brief but thoughtful bibliography to which the interested reader can sink a great deal more time. The author’s work, then, is first-rate, but he hasn’t been especially well served by his editors and production staff.
This more recent series by Osprey is longer than their others, running to 96 pages. It departs from their earlier practice of putting all the color plates in one signature (a production decision based on economics) and has spread color illustrations throughout the volume. Unfortunately, those which reproduce present-day photos of battle sites (as opposed to photos of paintings and sculpture) tend not to be very well reproduced, which pulls down the overall quality of the work. There are also way too many typos and questionable spellings and dates, which could have been avoided by closer attention to copyediting. Still Bagnall has done an excellent job of providing a concise introduction to a complicated subject, which is exactly what Osprey aims to do in all its series. And there’s a brief but thoughtful bibliography to which the interested reader can sink a great deal more time. The author’s work, then, is first-rate, but he hasn’t been especially well served by his editors and production staff.
November 18, 2019
Războaiele punice au fost o serie de conflicte militare între romani și cartaginezi care s-au întins pe o perioadă de aproape 118 ani, cu câteva pauze semnificative. Practic, ne arată ce se întâmplă când două state antice (amândouă având mari ambiții de expansiune teritorială) - unul trebuie să fie "delenda".
Cartea este subțirică, dar reușește să acopere perioada stabilită de timp cu succes, punctând toate evenimentele importante și lăsând puțin loc pentru analizarea comandanților principali ai fiecărei părți: Hannibal și Scipio. Stilul autorului este academic și puțin pedant, dar se remarcă clar faptul că este constrâns de dimensiunile reduse ale volumului. Deci, avem de-a face cu un rezumat foarte bun al celor trei războaie și cu o introducere eficientă în perioada tumultoasă a adolescenței Romei.
Cartea este subțirică, dar reușește să acopere perioada stabilită de timp cu succes, punctând toate evenimentele importante și lăsând puțin loc pentru analizarea comandanților principali ai fiecărei părți: Hannibal și Scipio. Stilul autorului este academic și puțin pedant, dar se remarcă clar faptul că este constrâns de dimensiunile reduse ale volumului. Deci, avem de-a face cu un rezumat foarte bun al celor trei războaie și cu o introducere eficientă în perioada tumultoasă a adolescenței Romei.
January 24, 2015
Extremely concise history about the three Punic Wars. A bit of military history along with political ones. Particularly lavishly illustrated.
Still boggles my mind how the author could have simplified it so much while it feels so complete. Sure, it's only 90+ pages. But I end up learning about Carthage's politicking, Roman naval battle revolution (that one with spike), of battles here and there, of people like Hamilcar, Hannibal, Scipio -- all that in text interspersed with big colored pictures.
Seriously though: how did he do that!? :O
Still boggles my mind how the author could have simplified it so much while it feels so complete. Sure, it's only 90+ pages. But I end up learning about Carthage's politicking, Roman naval battle revolution (that one with spike), of battles here and there, of people like Hamilcar, Hannibal, Scipio -- all that in text interspersed with big colored pictures.
Seriously though: how did he do that!? :O
March 1, 2021
I have read Mr. Bagnall's longer book about the Punic wars years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought this book would be a quick way to refresh my knowledge of the conflict, which it was. That being said, I found it to be not as well organized and some aspects of the wars were slighted. In short, if you've read his longer book it is hard to not be somewhat disappointed in this abbreviated version.
October 26, 2012
An excellent, succinct summary of the three Punic wars and the context in which they took place; accompanied by a reasonably sized reading list for anyone who wants to learn more. Good for anyone who wants a big picture viewed how the strategic and operational objectives and situations led to the defeat of Carthage and the extinction of their entire race.
February 25, 2008
Pretty, but limited.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews