Hannibal: The Military Genius Who Almost Conquered Rome

Hannibal Barca is famous for marching an eclectic mix of troops across the Alps and into the Roman heartland during the Second Punic War. But how much do we know about the world Hannibal was born into and came of age in? About his family and their ties to the powerful port city of Carthage? About the Roman reaction to Hannibal’s wreckage and their approach to the war in general? About the Italian cities Hannibal either devastated or courted; the diverse and impressive army he built; the powerful Roman generals he confronted, bested, and often killed; and the obstacles he and his army endured the closer they came to Rome? And how much do we actually know about the real Hannibal—not the myth, but the nuanced and fallible man who lost brothers in battle, failed to succeed in a war he fought so hard to win, and died by suicide in exile—who remained a military legend.

In Hannibal: The Military Genius Who Almost Conquered Rome, get to know one of history’s most impressive generals from the political and military conflicts that defined his adolescence to the battles that made him famous. These 15 lectures will paint a portrait of not only Hannibal, but also his enemies and allies. Explore their world from the port city of Carthage and its sphere of influence to Rome and the terrains that Hannibal’s army crossed and sometimes occupied, en route on their mission of conquest. Learn about Hannibal’s family, follow his father Hamilcar on early military expeditions into Hispania and follow his brothers into battles during the Second Punic War. Accompany Carthaginian soldiers on their difficult journey across the Italian Alps, courting or confronting Roman-allied cities. Reconstruct key battles between Hannibal and a series of Roman generals, evaluating each side’s strengths, weaknesses, and strategy. And understand why Hannibal—an extremely successful general who terrified his rivals and impressed his contemporaries—ultimately lost his fight against Rome.