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Hannibal: Rome's Greatest Enemy
Telling the story of a man who stood against the overwhelming power of the mighty Roman empire, Hannibal is the biography of a man who, against all odds, dared to change the course of history. Over two thousand years ago one of the greatest military leaders in history almost destroyed Rome. Hannibal, a daring African general from the city of Carthage, led an army of warriors and battle elephants over the snowy Alps to invade the very heart of Rome's growing empire. But what kind of person would dare to face the most relentless imperial power of the ancient world? How could Hannibal, consistently outnumbered and always deep in enemy territory, win battle after battle until he held the very fate of Rome within his grasp? Hannibal appeals to many as the ultimate underdog—a Carthaginian David against the Goliath of Rome—but it wasn't just his genius on the battlefield that set him apart. As a boy and then a man, his self-discipline and determination were legendary. As a military leader, like Alexander the Great before him and Julius Caesar after, he understood the hearts of men and had an uncanny ability to read the unseen weaknesses of his enemy. As a commander in war, Hannibal has few equals in history and has long been held as a model of strategic and tactical genius. But Hannibal was much more than just a great general. He was a practiced statesman, a skilled diplomat, and a man deeply devoted to his family and country. Roman historians—on whom we rely for almost all our information on Hannibal—portray him as a cruel barbarian, but how does the story change if we look at Hannibal from the Carthaginian point of view? Can we search beneath the accounts of Roman writers who were eager to portray Hannibal as a monster and find a more human figure? Can we use the life of Hannibal to look at the Romans themselves in an unfamiliar way— not as the noble and benign defenders of civilization but as ruthless conquerors motivated by greed and conquest?
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2022
122 people are currently reading
3419 people want to read
About the author
Philip Freeman
76 books510 followersI teach Classics and Celtic studies at Luther College in the beautiful little town of Decorah, Iowa. I did my doctoral work at Harvard and taught at Boston University and Washington University in St. Louis before coming to Luther to help run the Classics department. I love teaching and see my writing as an extension of my work in the classroom. I hope you enjoy the books as much as I enjoyed writing them.
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November 16, 2025
Hannibal: Rome's Greatest Enemy - Philip Freeman
سيرة القائد القرطاجي "حنبعل" من الطفولة وحتّى وفاته..
سيرة سريعة وإن كانت قصير لكن محكمة ومركزة مع تصوير مفصل للمعارك والمواجهات والاستراتيجيات العسكرية التي استخدمها خلال معاركه ضد روما..
سيرة جيدة جدًا مع تاريخ مفصل لصراع روما وقرطاج الطويل...
سيرة القائد القرطاجي "حنبعل" من الطفولة وحتّى وفاته..
سيرة سريعة وإن كانت قصير لكن محكمة ومركزة مع تصوير مفصل للمعارك والمواجهات والاستراتيجيات العسكرية التي استخدمها خلال معاركه ضد روما..
سيرة جيدة جدًا مع تاريخ مفصل لصراع روما وقرطاج الطويل...
July 25, 2025
Thinking About Hannibal
Hannibal fascinated me when I was young. With Phillip Freeman's "Hannibal: Rome's Greatest Enemy" (2022), I have read a book about Hannibal at last. Freeman, Fletcher Jones Chair in Humanities at Pepperdine University, has written extensively about the ancient world, including biographies of two other military leaders, Alexander the Great, who came before Hannibal, and Julius Caesar, who came after. Freeman describes how in his youth he was taken with the story of Hannibal, as I was and as so many have been. Freeman writes describing Hannibal's accomplishments and what Freeman has come to see as the meaning of the history.
"Like so many others, I remember as a boy reading with fascination the story of Hannibal leading his battle elephants over the Alps and defeating the seemingly unbeatable Romans in a seemingly hopeless war to save his country. But I long wondered: Who was the man behind the legend? What can the stories we have of him -- almost all from hostile Roman sources -- tell us about the real Hannibal? How does the story change if we look at Hannibal from the Carthiginian and not the Roman point of view? Can we search beneath the accounts of Roman historians like Livy who were eager to portray Hannibal as a monster and find a more human figure? Can we use the life of Hannibal to look at the Romans themselves in an unfamiliar way, not as the noble and benign defenders of civilization familiar from modern history books but as voracious, ruthless conquerors motivated by greed and imperialism?"
Freeman's lucidly written book places Hannibal and his fight against Rome in the context of the times and against the backdrop of the relationship between Rome and Carthage. He develops the history of Carthage and its first war with Rome, followed by the young Hannibal travelling to Spain with his father and developing his skills in warfare and administration to an astonishing degree. Freeman describes Hannibal's great feat in crossing the Alps to Italy where he fought Rome for fifteen years. The highlight was the Battle of Cannae in 216, B.C., in which Hannibal obliterated a large Roman army in one of the greatest military victories in history. Freeman offers a dramatic description of this battle and considers the question of why Hannibal failed to follow-up his triumph by marching on Rome.
Freeman has a great deal of sympathy for Hannibal and offers a much more favorable portrayal than do the historical Roman sources. He is also sympathetic to Carthage as a nation of traders that, in his account, did not seek to subdue the world in its own image, as did Rome. Much of the cause for Hannibal's ultimate failure to defeat Rome was due to his lack of support from the leadership in Carthage.
By any measure, Hannibal was an extraordinarily gifted individual and general. Freeman praises Hannibal as well as "a practiced statesman, a skilled diplomat, and a man deeply devoted to his family and country. " There is a great sense in this book of rooting for the underdog. The book gives the reader a view of the terrors of war in the ancient world and of its-no-holds-barred character. I thought anew of the waste of human life and of the great genius and skill devoted to death and killing, both in Hannibal's time and in the modern world.
Freeman's book helps the reader along with a timeline and with a discussion of historical sources, ancient and modern, on Hannibal. Unfortunately, there are no maps. Freeman's book is an excellent choice for readers who want to learn and to think about Hannibal and about the wars between Rome and Carthage.
Robin Friedman
Hannibal fascinated me when I was young. With Phillip Freeman's "Hannibal: Rome's Greatest Enemy" (2022), I have read a book about Hannibal at last. Freeman, Fletcher Jones Chair in Humanities at Pepperdine University, has written extensively about the ancient world, including biographies of two other military leaders, Alexander the Great, who came before Hannibal, and Julius Caesar, who came after. Freeman describes how in his youth he was taken with the story of Hannibal, as I was and as so many have been. Freeman writes describing Hannibal's accomplishments and what Freeman has come to see as the meaning of the history.
"Like so many others, I remember as a boy reading with fascination the story of Hannibal leading his battle elephants over the Alps and defeating the seemingly unbeatable Romans in a seemingly hopeless war to save his country. But I long wondered: Who was the man behind the legend? What can the stories we have of him -- almost all from hostile Roman sources -- tell us about the real Hannibal? How does the story change if we look at Hannibal from the Carthiginian and not the Roman point of view? Can we search beneath the accounts of Roman historians like Livy who were eager to portray Hannibal as a monster and find a more human figure? Can we use the life of Hannibal to look at the Romans themselves in an unfamiliar way, not as the noble and benign defenders of civilization familiar from modern history books but as voracious, ruthless conquerors motivated by greed and imperialism?"
Freeman's lucidly written book places Hannibal and his fight against Rome in the context of the times and against the backdrop of the relationship between Rome and Carthage. He develops the history of Carthage and its first war with Rome, followed by the young Hannibal travelling to Spain with his father and developing his skills in warfare and administration to an astonishing degree. Freeman describes Hannibal's great feat in crossing the Alps to Italy where he fought Rome for fifteen years. The highlight was the Battle of Cannae in 216, B.C., in which Hannibal obliterated a large Roman army in one of the greatest military victories in history. Freeman offers a dramatic description of this battle and considers the question of why Hannibal failed to follow-up his triumph by marching on Rome.
Freeman has a great deal of sympathy for Hannibal and offers a much more favorable portrayal than do the historical Roman sources. He is also sympathetic to Carthage as a nation of traders that, in his account, did not seek to subdue the world in its own image, as did Rome. Much of the cause for Hannibal's ultimate failure to defeat Rome was due to his lack of support from the leadership in Carthage.
By any measure, Hannibal was an extraordinarily gifted individual and general. Freeman praises Hannibal as well as "a practiced statesman, a skilled diplomat, and a man deeply devoted to his family and country. " There is a great sense in this book of rooting for the underdog. The book gives the reader a view of the terrors of war in the ancient world and of its-no-holds-barred character. I thought anew of the waste of human life and of the great genius and skill devoted to death and killing, both in Hannibal's time and in the modern world.
Freeman's book helps the reader along with a timeline and with a discussion of historical sources, ancient and modern, on Hannibal. Unfortunately, there are no maps. Freeman's book is an excellent choice for readers who want to learn and to think about Hannibal and about the wars between Rome and Carthage.
Robin Friedman
March 3, 2023
While I enjoyed the book, I thought it could have delved into more detail about Hannibal and the events described in the book. The battle of Cannae, probably the most important battle in Hannibal’s career, was just a few pages. I wanted more detail! Likewise, the timeline in the front of the book mentioned Hannibal had a wife later in life but there is absolutely NO mention of this in the actual book. I’d like to know more! I also found the book riddled with a number of grammatical errors and typos, probably the most I’ve found in a published book. It did, however, make me appreciate Hannibal and want to learn more!
June 27, 2022
Ханибал, от когото Рим се страхуваше: https://knigolandia.info/book-review/...
Фрийман започва отдалеч с историята на Картаген, с жестоките му обичаи, сред които принасяне на деца в жертва при голяма опасност, търговските му амбиции и отказа да поддържа своя армия, което в крайна сметка се оказва решаващо. Описва как в началото отношенията с все още слабия Рим са приятелски, до момента, когато вече не са. Спира се пространно на семейство Барка и особено бащата на Ханибал, който го заклева да мрази Рим до сетния си дъх, успешната им експанзия в Испания, която всъщност става животворна артерия за Картаген, истински плацдарм за създаване на силата, която може да се противопостави на римската агресия. Разбира се, основният фокус е върху похода на Ханибал към Рим, пресичането на Алпите с цената на огромни жертви, и последователните му победи над римските легиони.
изд. "Прозорец"
https://knigolandia.info/book-review/...
Фрийман започва отдалеч с историята на Картаген, с жестоките му обичаи, сред които принасяне на деца в жертва при голяма опасност, търговските му амбиции и отказа да поддържа своя армия, което в крайна сметка се оказва решаващо. Описва как в началото отношенията с все още слабия Рим са приятелски, до момента, когато вече не са. Спира се пространно на семейство Барка и особено бащата на Ханибал, който го заклева да мрази Рим до сетния си дъх, успешната им експанзия в Испания, която всъщност става животворна артерия за Картаген, истински плацдарм за създаване на силата, която може да се противопостави на римската агресия. Разбира се, основният фокус е върху похода на Ханибал към Рим, пресичането на Алпите с цената на огромни жертви, и последователните му победи над римските легиони.
изд. "Прозорец"
https://knigolandia.info/book-review/...
February 19, 2022
I never read a book with so many words missing or added. A simple spellcheck would do it. I did really like the story of a very cunning military leader.
I also can't understand why a history book of so long ago would not include even one map showing the geography of Hannibal's travels throughout Europe and the Mediterranean.
I also can't understand why a history book of so long ago would not include even one map showing the geography of Hannibal's travels throughout Europe and the Mediterranean.
August 3, 2022
Today's post is Hannibal: Rome's Greatest Enemy by Philip Freeman. It is 216 pages long and is published by Pegasus Books. The cover is a painting of Hannibal and his armies. The intended reader is someone who is interested in Hannibal. There is no foul language, no sex, and descriptions of violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the dust jacket- Over two thousand years ago one of the greatest military leaders in history almost destroyed Rome. Hannibal, a daring African general from the city of Carthage, led an army of warriors and battle elephants over the snowy Alps to invade the very heart of Rome's growing empire. But what kind of person would dare to face the most relentless imperial power of the ancient world? How could Hannibal consistently outnumbered and always deep in enemy territory, win battle after battle until he held the very fate of Rome within his grasp?
Hannibal appeals many as the ultimate underdog- a Carthaginian David against the Goliath of Rome- but it wasn't just his genius on the battlefield that set him apart. As a boy and then a man, his self-discipline and determination were legendary. As a military leader, like Alexander the Great before him and Julius Caesar after, he understood the hearts of men and had an uncanny ability to read the unseen weaknesses of his enemy. As a commander in war, Hannibal has few equals in history and has long been held as a model of strategic and technical genius. But Hannibal was much more than just a great general. He was a practiced statesmen, a skilled diplomat, and a man deeply devoted to his family and country.
Roman historians- on whom we rely for almost all our information on Hannibal- portray him as a cruel barbarian, but how does the story change if we look at Hannibal from the Carthaginian point of view? Can we search beneath the accounts of Roman writers who were eager to portray Hannibal as a monster and find a more human figure? can we use the life of Hannibal to look at the Romans themselves in an unfamiliar way- now the noble and benign defenders of civilization but as ruthless conquerors motivated by greed and conquest?
Review- A quick reader about a great historical figure. Freeman is a great writer, who takes thousands of year old history and makes it interesting and new. Freeman takes the reader from the beginning of Hannibal's life until his death. He uses many different sources both ancient and modern. He casts a very, justly, critical eye to the Romans and the way they portray Hannibal and themselves. Hannibal was an interesting man and the reader gets to know him over the course of his life and the lives of those around him. If you are looking for a great way to study Rome and Roman history from a very different perspective, then you need to read this book. I hope that Freeman writes more Roman history in his very readable style.
I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.
From the dust jacket- Over two thousand years ago one of the greatest military leaders in history almost destroyed Rome. Hannibal, a daring African general from the city of Carthage, led an army of warriors and battle elephants over the snowy Alps to invade the very heart of Rome's growing empire. But what kind of person would dare to face the most relentless imperial power of the ancient world? How could Hannibal consistently outnumbered and always deep in enemy territory, win battle after battle until he held the very fate of Rome within his grasp?
Hannibal appeals many as the ultimate underdog- a Carthaginian David against the Goliath of Rome- but it wasn't just his genius on the battlefield that set him apart. As a boy and then a man, his self-discipline and determination were legendary. As a military leader, like Alexander the Great before him and Julius Caesar after, he understood the hearts of men and had an uncanny ability to read the unseen weaknesses of his enemy. As a commander in war, Hannibal has few equals in history and has long been held as a model of strategic and technical genius. But Hannibal was much more than just a great general. He was a practiced statesmen, a skilled diplomat, and a man deeply devoted to his family and country.
Roman historians- on whom we rely for almost all our information on Hannibal- portray him as a cruel barbarian, but how does the story change if we look at Hannibal from the Carthaginian point of view? Can we search beneath the accounts of Roman writers who were eager to portray Hannibal as a monster and find a more human figure? can we use the life of Hannibal to look at the Romans themselves in an unfamiliar way- now the noble and benign defenders of civilization but as ruthless conquerors motivated by greed and conquest?
Review- A quick reader about a great historical figure. Freeman is a great writer, who takes thousands of year old history and makes it interesting and new. Freeman takes the reader from the beginning of Hannibal's life until his death. He uses many different sources both ancient and modern. He casts a very, justly, critical eye to the Romans and the way they portray Hannibal and themselves. Hannibal was an interesting man and the reader gets to know him over the course of his life and the lives of those around him. If you are looking for a great way to study Rome and Roman history from a very different perspective, then you need to read this book. I hope that Freeman writes more Roman history in his very readable style.
I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.
June 27, 2022
In following his pledge to his father, Hannibal devoted his life and career to a continual campaign against Rome. In this short book Philip Freeman condenses his life of military operations and battles and the political pressures that influenced it.
Freeman with welcome clarity describes the military strategies inclusive of the logistics of topography, positioning, surprise, timing, supplies, morale and expectations. The highlights include the trek over the Alps, the equally impressive march through the marshes and the battle of Cannae.
You learn about the political considerations of a mercantile Carthage that is not fully supportive of Hannibal and his crusade. In Rome, you see how the annual changing of the consuls changed the military and political strategy. You see Hannibal walking a tight line with the population he needs to plunder to feed his army, but sill win the support of the local leaders of so that he can recruit troops.
There is a good discussion on the logistics of taking Rome and whether or not it was possible.
In the end, neither the aging Hannibal nor his equally accomplished opponent Scipio received the credit they deserved from the governing bodies of their respective countries.
The book concludes with a chapter: “What if Hannibal had Won?” and a discussion of the primary sources.
I highly recommend this for general readers, particularly young adult general readers, interested in this period.
Freeman with welcome clarity describes the military strategies inclusive of the logistics of topography, positioning, surprise, timing, supplies, morale and expectations. The highlights include the trek over the Alps, the equally impressive march through the marshes and the battle of Cannae.
You learn about the political considerations of a mercantile Carthage that is not fully supportive of Hannibal and his crusade. In Rome, you see how the annual changing of the consuls changed the military and political strategy. You see Hannibal walking a tight line with the population he needs to plunder to feed his army, but sill win the support of the local leaders of so that he can recruit troops.
There is a good discussion on the logistics of taking Rome and whether or not it was possible.
In the end, neither the aging Hannibal nor his equally accomplished opponent Scipio received the credit they deserved from the governing bodies of their respective countries.
The book concludes with a chapter: “What if Hannibal had Won?” and a discussion of the primary sources.
I highly recommend this for general readers, particularly young adult general readers, interested in this period.
February 17, 2024
Hannibal remains one of the most incredible figures in all of history. Even though he lost the war to Rome, the lessons he taught them during their many battles were the reason they went on to be the empire they became. Roman scholars studied Hannibal meticulously for hundreds of years after his death to see what they could learn from him. And yet, dear friends, when Scipio asked Hannibal himself who the greatest conqueror of all time was . . . Hannibal said Alexander without a doubt. Scipio agreed.
Never forget the king.
My obsession with Alexander aside, this was a very good short read. I highly recommend it.
Never forget the king.
My obsession with Alexander aside, this was a very good short read. I highly recommend it.
March 4, 2025
Hannibal is such an interesting person and the things people did to each other back then is diabolical.
It’s crazy how actual history can be far more evil than any fiction book.
I do think that if you’re interested in reading about him I would also read Ghosts of Cannae because where one book lacks information the other one fills it in.
It’s crazy how actual history can be far more evil than any fiction book.
I do think that if you’re interested in reading about him I would also read Ghosts of Cannae because where one book lacks information the other one fills it in.
July 24, 2025
5-Star Review of Hannibal by Philip Freeman
What an enjoyable and informative biography! Philip Freeman delivers a masterfully written and thoroughly researched account of one of history’s most fascinating figures. Hannibal is concise yet rich in detail, providing readers with a complete and compelling picture of Hannibal’s brilliance as both a military strategist and a leader of men.
I was especially impressed with Freeman’s balanced and engaging writing style. He doesn’t sensationalize or oversimplify; instead, he presents Hannibal in all his complexity—fearsome on the battlefield, yet often restrained and rational in leadership. Freeman captures how Hannibal molded a massively diverse and often fractious army into a devastatingly effective force that took Rome to the brink of collapse. It’s hard not to wonder how different world history might have been had Carthage’s political leadership supported him more fully.
Freeman also excels in his use of sources. His bibliography alone gave me a long list of new books to explore, and I appreciated how he drew from both classical and modern scholarship to frame Hannibal’s legacy.
This is the kind of biography that stays with you. Whether you’re new to ancient history or a long-time reader of military biographies, Hannibal hits all the right notes—tight, thoughtful, and packed with insight. Highly recommended!
I can’t wait to dig into some of Freeman’s other works.
What an enjoyable and informative biography! Philip Freeman delivers a masterfully written and thoroughly researched account of one of history’s most fascinating figures. Hannibal is concise yet rich in detail, providing readers with a complete and compelling picture of Hannibal’s brilliance as both a military strategist and a leader of men.
I was especially impressed with Freeman’s balanced and engaging writing style. He doesn’t sensationalize or oversimplify; instead, he presents Hannibal in all his complexity—fearsome on the battlefield, yet often restrained and rational in leadership. Freeman captures how Hannibal molded a massively diverse and often fractious army into a devastatingly effective force that took Rome to the brink of collapse. It’s hard not to wonder how different world history might have been had Carthage’s political leadership supported him more fully.
Freeman also excels in his use of sources. His bibliography alone gave me a long list of new books to explore, and I appreciated how he drew from both classical and modern scholarship to frame Hannibal’s legacy.
This is the kind of biography that stays with you. Whether you’re new to ancient history or a long-time reader of military biographies, Hannibal hits all the right notes—tight, thoughtful, and packed with insight. Highly recommended!
I can’t wait to dig into some of Freeman’s other works.
December 3, 2023
ROYAL READS PROJECT 2023
Looks like I’ve read one sort of Hannibal book at some point….
Looks like I’ve read one sort of Hannibal book at some point….
April 6, 2023
I picked this up from the new nonfiction shelf at my local public library. Hannibal is a famous figure I am loosely familiar with, but have never read about before. I rarely read about ancient history.
This was a good, easy read about Hannibal's life and campaigns. It does not dive deeply into his battles. There were many aspects of the story that I did not know before.
Probably the most notable thing about this book is the negative portray of the Roman Republic. Most surviving ancient sources about Rome are Roman, with a strong pro-Roman bias, and this has skewed the perception of the Romans. The author's opinion of Hannibal is generally positive.
There is a helpful glossary of dramatis personae and a summary of ancient sources about Hannibal. Unfortunately, there are no maps.
Recommended.
This was a good, easy read about Hannibal's life and campaigns. It does not dive deeply into his battles. There were many aspects of the story that I did not know before.
Probably the most notable thing about this book is the negative portray of the Roman Republic. Most surviving ancient sources about Rome are Roman, with a strong pro-Roman bias, and this has skewed the perception of the Romans. The author's opinion of Hannibal is generally positive.
There is a helpful glossary of dramatis personae and a summary of ancient sources about Hannibal. Unfortunately, there are no maps.
Recommended.
January 11, 2023
An easy read through the story of Hannibal that covers all the major events accurately and clearly. Unfortunately there were some moments - especially the Battle of Cannae - that needed more build-up and depth. The description of Cannae fell well short, in length and intensity, of what that epic battle deserves. That seems a very strange omission for what really should have been the centrepiece of the book. Other sections were rushed through but at least the strategic situation stayed in focus so the reader never gets lost in the detail - which is the opposite problem found in other books.
January 27, 2023
Short. To the point. Interesting.
Read
February 25, 2025Knjiga nije suhoparna; iako je ishod svima poznat bila je napeta (koliko jedna ovakva knjiga moze biti) - par puta sam se pitao kako li ce sad Hannibal nadmudriti neprijatelja; a meni najzanimljivije nadmudrivanje je bilo kod rijeke Volturno, ali se ne moze ne spomenuti bitka kod Cannae - jedna od najkrvavijih bitki antickog svijeta - u jednom danu je ubijeno preko 60 000 rimljana. Hannibal nije bio samo odlican strateg vec i politicar, cak 10 godina nakon 2. Punskog rata rimljani su se bojali Hannibala i htjeli ga eliminirati. Cak se i dan danas vode rasprave je li Hannibal mozda zasluzan za stvaranje onog Rima kojeg pamtimo iz srednje skole; da nije bilo Hannibala i njegovih "podviga" tko zna bi li Rim toliko narastao-u smislu da su nakon sukoba sa Hannibalom mnogo toga naucili i postali okrutniji, da bi im se slicne situacije (Hannibal ad portas) ne bi ponovile. Svasta se ponovilo, svasta novo se naucilo. Da je ovo bio roman rekao bih da je ovo sto je on uradio nemoguce (famozni prijelaz preko Alpi) i da je sve to izmisljeno.. Na kraju (kao i u vecini slucajeva), razlog bilo kakvog raspada je pohlepa. Kniga nije predetaljna - ima nekih 200tinjak strana i brzo se cita, mozda bas zbog toga sto je napeta, vjerovatno postoje detaljnije knjige; ja sam ovu pronasao preko youtube/ig/tiktok kanala "Michael Kist"- sve preporuke za Michaela.
Ali najveca mana je sto nema niti jedne jedine mape, ni mape borbe ni gradova, rijeka, itd.. sto je po meni suludo, ali dobro. Preporuka za sve ljubitelje povijesti ali i one koji to nisu.
Ali najveca mana je sto nema niti jedne jedine mape, ni mape borbe ni gradova, rijeka, itd.. sto je po meni suludo, ali dobro. Preporuka za sve ljubitelje povijesti ali i one koji to nisu.
May 20, 2024
Easily the ancient world's GOAT warlord. Maybe even all-time, bar Napoleon. The idea that his (probably incorrect) decision not to mercilessly push the boot into Rome's exposed neck after Cannae unquestionably altered what life looks like in the modern world today really belittles all the "big" decisions most people make day-to-day.
As an aside, John Lescault's narration on Audible was among the worst/driest I've ever heard. Thankfully, the book rose above his monotonous telling.
As an aside, John Lescault's narration on Audible was among the worst/driest I've ever heard. Thankfully, the book rose above his monotonous telling.
September 1, 2024
Aníbal Barca es uno de mis personajes históricos favoritos, tal vez solo superado por su antecesor legendario Alejandro de Macedonia. Es, además, curioso que Aníbal admirase a su vez a Alejandro. Y Alejandro admiraba al mito y leyenda que escapa en ocasiones a la realidad.
Sea como sea, la historia que nos llega de Aníbal Barca, el más grande estratega militar de Cartago, resulta ser toda una epopeya llena de grandes hazañas, largos caminos a través de los años, innumerables obstáculos superados, planes y estrategias que aún son estudiadas en nuestros tiempos (¡más de dos mil años después!), y todo un corolario de anécdotas que dan más sabor al personaje.
Con una gran habilidad narrativa, accesible y amena, el autor nos lleva a través de la conquista de la península Ibérica, la marcha a través de Galia, el cruce legendario de los Alpes, la anexión de los Celtas, la conquista del territorio italiano, y sobre todo el gran temor y odio que infundió en el corazón de uno de los más grandes imperios de la antigüedad: Roma.
En ocasiones peca de ser un narrador omnisciente, lo que le aleja del enfoque meramente académico: nos introduce al pensamiento de ciertos personajes, sus “es probable que Fulano haya pensado” o “Mengano sintió que era su oportunidad” y demás tipo de aseveraciones que son más propias de una narración de ficción. En este caso no podemos dar crédito total a dichos pensamientos, ya que no existen registros como diarios personales que recolecten los sentimientos e inquietudes de estas personas. Sin embargo, es justo ese tono más “narrativo” lo que permite que la lectura sea tan atrayente e inmersiva, tanto que cien páginas pueden escurrirse como agua entre los dedos en un par de horas.
Veo un par de puntos negativos por los cuales no le dejo 5 estrellas. En primer lugar, me habría gustado que fuera más profundo en la historia. Doscientas páginas es demasiado poco para tan grande personaje histórico, y carece además de mayor información respecto a los años más jóvenes de Aníbal. En segundo lugar, y sea tan solo mi opinión personal, el escaso enfoque hacia Escipión el Africano, aunque entiendo que este libro tratase de su contraparte. Sin duda estos dos personajes fueron el espinazo y la médula de la segunda guerra púnica, y la relación entre ellos, su respeto mutuo y gran consideración hacia el otro, merece mucho más.
Poco me he internado en el estudio del imperio Romano, mas que por otras fuentes indirectas. Pero la imagen que el autor nos retrata sobre el sentir de dicho imperio, sus acciones y visiones, perfectamente reflejan el personaje imperialista que en nuestros días observamos con cierto vecino norteño. Roma me cae mal, en pocas palabras. Habré de leer más al respecto, ya sea que confirme mi sentimiento o rectifique, el tiempo y las palabras lo dirán.
Sea como sea, la historia que nos llega de Aníbal Barca, el más grande estratega militar de Cartago, resulta ser toda una epopeya llena de grandes hazañas, largos caminos a través de los años, innumerables obstáculos superados, planes y estrategias que aún son estudiadas en nuestros tiempos (¡más de dos mil años después!), y todo un corolario de anécdotas que dan más sabor al personaje.
Con una gran habilidad narrativa, accesible y amena, el autor nos lleva a través de la conquista de la península Ibérica, la marcha a través de Galia, el cruce legendario de los Alpes, la anexión de los Celtas, la conquista del territorio italiano, y sobre todo el gran temor y odio que infundió en el corazón de uno de los más grandes imperios de la antigüedad: Roma.
En ocasiones peca de ser un narrador omnisciente, lo que le aleja del enfoque meramente académico: nos introduce al pensamiento de ciertos personajes, sus “es probable que Fulano haya pensado” o “Mengano sintió que era su oportunidad” y demás tipo de aseveraciones que son más propias de una narración de ficción. En este caso no podemos dar crédito total a dichos pensamientos, ya que no existen registros como diarios personales que recolecten los sentimientos e inquietudes de estas personas. Sin embargo, es justo ese tono más “narrativo” lo que permite que la lectura sea tan atrayente e inmersiva, tanto que cien páginas pueden escurrirse como agua entre los dedos en un par de horas.
Veo un par de puntos negativos por los cuales no le dejo 5 estrellas. En primer lugar, me habría gustado que fuera más profundo en la historia. Doscientas páginas es demasiado poco para tan grande personaje histórico, y carece además de mayor información respecto a los años más jóvenes de Aníbal. En segundo lugar, y sea tan solo mi opinión personal, el escaso enfoque hacia Escipión el Africano, aunque entiendo que este libro tratase de su contraparte. Sin duda estos dos personajes fueron el espinazo y la médula de la segunda guerra púnica, y la relación entre ellos, su respeto mutuo y gran consideración hacia el otro, merece mucho más.
Poco me he internado en el estudio del imperio Romano, mas que por otras fuentes indirectas. Pero la imagen que el autor nos retrata sobre el sentir de dicho imperio, sus acciones y visiones, perfectamente reflejan el personaje imperialista que en nuestros días observamos con cierto vecino norteño. Roma me cae mal, en pocas palabras. Habré de leer más al respecto, ya sea que confirme mi sentimiento o rectifique, el tiempo y las palabras lo dirán.
October 15, 2024
When I first started Hannibal by Phillip Freeman, it seemed to me to be very biased toward Hannibal, almost sickly so (which I know that’s a little dumb to say about a book of which the subject is Hannibal). But Freeman gradually won me over once I had gotten to the end of the book.
It’s a great introduction to Hannibal and the times he lived in, and it definitely makes you want to read more on Hannibal and Scipio.
I think freeman does a decent job with this book but unfortunately there are quite a lot of typos and sadly no maps to be seen, thus keeping it just out of reach of an enjoyable 5 star read.
It’s a great introduction to Hannibal and the times he lived in, and it definitely makes you want to read more on Hannibal and Scipio.
I think freeman does a decent job with this book but unfortunately there are quite a lot of typos and sadly no maps to be seen, thus keeping it just out of reach of an enjoyable 5 star read.
May 21, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. Amazing to hear about Hannibals journey to Italy and descriptions of battle. Only negative is that there is not a map. Would be nice when he references all of the places you could look. I guess google works. This is a brief overview of all his battles not crazy in depth and a fast read.
September 2, 2025
I admittedly knew very little about Hannibal as my knowledge consisted of his name, crossing the alps, and elephants.
A short but fun read (listen) that helped to acquaint me with the Carthaginian general. Far from being a simple barbarian who happened to get one over on Rome, Hannibal was a master general who struck fear into the greatest empire of the ancient world through clever alliances, smart use of his troops/resources and prowess in warfare.
Philip Freeman is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. I’ve read this, his work on Alexander the Great, and soon will read his book on Julius Caesar. He uses a nice narrative style my brain can enjoy as opposed to an endless recitation of facts. I’ll be on the lookout for more of his books to come.
A short but fun read (listen) that helped to acquaint me with the Carthaginian general. Far from being a simple barbarian who happened to get one over on Rome, Hannibal was a master general who struck fear into the greatest empire of the ancient world through clever alliances, smart use of his troops/resources and prowess in warfare.
Philip Freeman is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. I’ve read this, his work on Alexander the Great, and soon will read his book on Julius Caesar. He uses a nice narrative style my brain can enjoy as opposed to an endless recitation of facts. I’ll be on the lookout for more of his books to come.
May 8, 2024
A very good historical story and explanation about a leader, warrior and thinker. Worth the time.
October 13, 2022
Hannibal, by Philip Freeman is a look into not only Hannibal's life, but his influence on Rome. Freeman paints a picture of a man sworn till death to defeat Rome at any cost, and we see that through Freeman's writing. Using ancient and modern sources to tell the tale of Hannibal and his war against Rome, Freeman paints a picture that shows not only Hannibal's resolve, but his eye for psychological warfare, infantry and appealing to a city's need to survive against Roman occupation.
In addition to painting a tale of Hannibal's life, Freeman takes the time to place us in the heads of various military leaders who've attempted to thwart Hannibal's descent into Rome. Everyone from Sempronius to Scipio and Scipio Africanus (Hannibal's rival in military warfare) sought to end Hannibal's war in Italy yet it was only because of certain measures within and outside of Hannibal's control that saw the destruction of Carthage, Rome's dominance in the region and Hannibal's exile and later death.
Overall, Freeman paints a collective picture of the ancient world and Hannibal's eye for strategy still be used by military today.
I'd give this a 5 out of 5 stars.
In addition to painting a tale of Hannibal's life, Freeman takes the time to place us in the heads of various military leaders who've attempted to thwart Hannibal's descent into Rome. Everyone from Sempronius to Scipio and Scipio Africanus (Hannibal's rival in military warfare) sought to end Hannibal's war in Italy yet it was only because of certain measures within and outside of Hannibal's control that saw the destruction of Carthage, Rome's dominance in the region and Hannibal's exile and later death.
Overall, Freeman paints a collective picture of the ancient world and Hannibal's eye for strategy still be used by military today.
I'd give this a 5 out of 5 stars.
February 25, 2022
Very good book on Hannibal. I appreciated the fact that it didn't drone on and on about every tiny detail. Freeman's ancient history biographies are good like that. I gotta read the Julius Caesar one too
June 9, 2024
Good overview of Hannibal’s conquest in Rome, though a bit one sided in its take. The author clearly wants the reader to side with Carthage and think of Hannibal as a natural born leader, a good man, and more “moral” than Rome. Overall good tho
November 18, 2024
Interesting story/topic, but the author wasn’t best. Several typos in the book and felt a little too simple at times. I understand that ancient events don’t have a lot of primary sources, but this book wasn’t the best
November 30, 2025
Very brief but engaging narrative, very strange counter-factual hypotheses at the end.
July 21, 2025
Phillip Freeman's Hannibal serves as a great introduction to the trials and tribulations of one of the greatest minds to ever grace a battlefield. In it we followed Hannibal from his beginnings in Carthage, to his rise in Spain, to his daring escapades that brought Rome to its knees, and his depressing fall to insignificance far from the City he gave his life to. It is a great "pool side history" and I enjoyed reading this alongside my other books (which are relatively denser) because I felt like I was gliding through this one, due to Freeman's prose and pacing.
My main problem with the book is the fact that I desired something a little more dense than a simple introduction. As a self proclaimed armchair historian, throughout the book I found myself in dire need of detail about Carthage's religion, political system, military makeup, etc. I understand that this was a biography of Hannibal and not his homeland, but even still, I finished the book with my same preconceptions of Hannibal the Legend and lacked a clear picture of who Hannibal the Man was. I understand that the source material is fragmentary at best, and incredibly biased against the Carthaginian to the point of fabrication in some instances, but I believe Freeman's job as a historian is to expand and enlighten on what little there may be, even if it may alienate a general audience. I do appreciate that Freeman provided an appendix for further reading so that I may be able to get a more comprehensive look at Hannibal.
The lacking descriptions could not be more pernicious than in the discussion of the battles. Though some of his battles, specifically his magnum opus Cannae, received some proper buildup, it felt as though the fighting were over as soon as it began. The deciding battle of the 2nd Punic War, Hannibal and Carthage's last stand, the great Battle of Zama, was concluded with minor details of the tactics in only half a page. HALF A PAGE???? I concede I might be spoiled when it comes to descriptions of battles, having just finished Adrian Goldsworthy's Philip and Alexander: Kings and Conquerors, but still, for such momentous, world-altering events, I would appreciate Freeman to throw me a bone and of not telling me exactly what happened in the battles, he could at least paint a picture of the chaos that unfolded on those ancient plains.
In summary, I did enjoy this book and will recommend it to people who want to learn more about Hannibal, Rome, or ancient history and lack any background information going into it. I may give Freeman another shot if I find myself spontaneously interested in the subject matter of one of his other books. I think I may be overly critical due to my immense respect and fascination for the figure that is Hannibal Barca, the eternal enemy of my beloved Rome. In fact, my yearbook quote is from him and encapsulates why I aspire to emulate his determination in my own endeavors.
Aut viam invenaeum, aut viam faciam.
I will find a way, or make one.
My main problem with the book is the fact that I desired something a little more dense than a simple introduction. As a self proclaimed armchair historian, throughout the book I found myself in dire need of detail about Carthage's religion, political system, military makeup, etc. I understand that this was a biography of Hannibal and not his homeland, but even still, I finished the book with my same preconceptions of Hannibal the Legend and lacked a clear picture of who Hannibal the Man was. I understand that the source material is fragmentary at best, and incredibly biased against the Carthaginian to the point of fabrication in some instances, but I believe Freeman's job as a historian is to expand and enlighten on what little there may be, even if it may alienate a general audience. I do appreciate that Freeman provided an appendix for further reading so that I may be able to get a more comprehensive look at Hannibal.
The lacking descriptions could not be more pernicious than in the discussion of the battles. Though some of his battles, specifically his magnum opus Cannae, received some proper buildup, it felt as though the fighting were over as soon as it began. The deciding battle of the 2nd Punic War, Hannibal and Carthage's last stand, the great Battle of Zama, was concluded with minor details of the tactics in only half a page. HALF A PAGE???? I concede I might be spoiled when it comes to descriptions of battles, having just finished Adrian Goldsworthy's Philip and Alexander: Kings and Conquerors, but still, for such momentous, world-altering events, I would appreciate Freeman to throw me a bone and of not telling me exactly what happened in the battles, he could at least paint a picture of the chaos that unfolded on those ancient plains.
In summary, I did enjoy this book and will recommend it to people who want to learn more about Hannibal, Rome, or ancient history and lack any background information going into it. I may give Freeman another shot if I find myself spontaneously interested in the subject matter of one of his other books. I think I may be overly critical due to my immense respect and fascination for the figure that is Hannibal Barca, the eternal enemy of my beloved Rome. In fact, my yearbook quote is from him and encapsulates why I aspire to emulate his determination in my own endeavors.
Aut viam invenaeum, aut viam faciam.
I will find a way, or make one.
August 3, 2022
This biography of Hannibal is perfect in so many ways. In just a few hundred pages, Freeman outlines his life story, particularly in the context of his role as the Roman empire's greatest threat. His admiration for Hannibal as a planner, commander, strategist and Carthaginian patriot shines through -- all the more an achievement as many of the surviving sources about him are Roman, and thus, not exactly unbiased.
Chapters are arranged around major battles and troop movements, which helps put these names into context (I think). I'm not the biggest fan of military history -- things like flanks and centers and different types of formations don't always make sense to me. But Freeman doesn't get bogged down in the details, but keeps things at a simple level, and thus held my interest. Freeman's service is to the larger story of Hannibal as a person and his role as champion of his people, so the minute details aren't that important here. There is a timeline and list of characters to keep the characters straight -- important in cultures that seemed to have a limited pool of name options! But - just a general map of the Mediterranean or even just Italy with the major battle locations highlighted would have been helpful. I found myself jumping out of the story quite often to scan the internet for a bit of geographical context.
A great book on this topic - a quick read. Plus -- elephants.
Chapters are arranged around major battles and troop movements, which helps put these names into context (I think). I'm not the biggest fan of military history -- things like flanks and centers and different types of formations don't always make sense to me. But Freeman doesn't get bogged down in the details, but keeps things at a simple level, and thus held my interest. Freeman's service is to the larger story of Hannibal as a person and his role as champion of his people, so the minute details aren't that important here. There is a timeline and list of characters to keep the characters straight -- important in cultures that seemed to have a limited pool of name options! But - just a general map of the Mediterranean or even just Italy with the major battle locations highlighted would have been helpful. I found myself jumping out of the story quite often to scan the internet for a bit of geographical context.
A great book on this topic - a quick read. Plus -- elephants.
March 2, 2025
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
One of the main reasons why I picked up this book was because of the badass artwork of Hannibal riding his elephants into battle. The other reason is that I was actually sort of interested in learning more about the historical figure as prior, I had only interacted with Hannibal through the pro-Roman lens of sources we were provided in ancient history class depicting him as ruthless and barbarian leader. This was quite the refreshing read for me, and the more holistic view helped paint the character and civilisation in a more vivid light.
Also, you can’t convince me that Scipio Africanus and Hannibal Barca at least didn’t have military crushes on each other because how else do you share wine and have a discussion with previous mortal enemies arguing over who are the strongest military leaders in history.
I loved reading about Hannibal’s ingenious and conniving plots which not only took advantage of the environment, but also the egos and temperaments of specific consuls all while being vastly outnumbered. I’m usually not a fan of counter-factual historiography because imo it just amounts to being glorified historical fanfiction, but it was quite intriguing to see the sheer number of knock-on effects of a possible Hannibal conquering Rome.
The short chapters on sources was a nice addition, the descriptions keying us to the influences and possible biases of specific historians was much appreciated. Philip Freeman also recommends a fair few books at the end and with ‘SPQR’ by Mary Beard being on there, I think I’ll finally give a solid crack at it.
”All of his life Hannibal had been waiting to tell the Romans exactly what he thought of them and now he could do so from a position of power. He had grown up in a family that had never forgotten the bitterness of defeat at the hands of Rome…”
One of the main reasons why I picked up this book was because of the badass artwork of Hannibal riding his elephants into battle. The other reason is that I was actually sort of interested in learning more about the historical figure as prior, I had only interacted with Hannibal through the pro-Roman lens of sources we were provided in ancient history class depicting him as ruthless and barbarian leader. This was quite the refreshing read for me, and the more holistic view helped paint the character and civilisation in a more vivid light.
Also, you can’t convince me that Scipio Africanus and Hannibal Barca at least didn’t have military crushes on each other because how else do you share wine and have a discussion with previous mortal enemies arguing over who are the strongest military leaders in history.
I loved reading about Hannibal’s ingenious and conniving plots which not only took advantage of the environment, but also the egos and temperaments of specific consuls all while being vastly outnumbered. I’m usually not a fan of counter-factual historiography because imo it just amounts to being glorified historical fanfiction, but it was quite intriguing to see the sheer number of knock-on effects of a possible Hannibal conquering Rome.
The short chapters on sources was a nice addition, the descriptions keying us to the influences and possible biases of specific historians was much appreciated. Philip Freeman also recommends a fair few books at the end and with ‘SPQR’ by Mary Beard being on there, I think I’ll finally give a solid crack at it.
January 16, 2025
What’s my Roman Empire, you ask?
Carthage.
Except it’s not true. (It’s obviously Tessa and Scott.)
I have come to realize that as much as I love history, this type of ancient strategy, war history is just doesn’t do it for me. It makes me kind of angry just HOW many soldiers die. Thousands and thousands of expendable men. I guess you’ve got nothing better to do? Idk, it’s such a brutal life. Makes me sad. (Don’t even get me started about how invisible women are. I’m fuming!)
Best part of this book? When Hannibal took his elephants OVER the alps! Bro was serious about attacking Rome!
I want to go back to Tunisia. I love it there so much. Plus the Carthage ruins are exceptional. Hope to find myself back there supa soon.
Carthage.
Except it’s not true. (It’s obviously Tessa and Scott.)
I have come to realize that as much as I love history, this type of ancient strategy, war history is just doesn’t do it for me. It makes me kind of angry just HOW many soldiers die. Thousands and thousands of expendable men. I guess you’ve got nothing better to do? Idk, it’s such a brutal life. Makes me sad. (Don’t even get me started about how invisible women are. I’m fuming!)
Best part of this book? When Hannibal took his elephants OVER the alps! Bro was serious about attacking Rome!
I want to go back to Tunisia. I love it there so much. Plus the Carthage ruins are exceptional. Hope to find myself back there supa soon.
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