The revolt of Carthage's mercenaries and oppressed Libyan subjects in 241-237 BC nearly ended her power and even existence. This 'truceless' war, unrivalled for its savagery, was fought over most of Punic North Africa and spread to Sardinia. It brought to power in Carthage Hamilcar Barca, father of Hannibal, whose generalship--though flawed--was critical to Carthage's final victory. The main narrative, by the Greek historian Polybius a century later, is vividly evocative (inspiring Flaubert's novel Salammbo) yet repeatedly unclear on military and geographical details, the extent and...

Hannibal's family dominated Carthage and its empire in Africa and Spain for the last 40 years of the 3rd century BC. His father Hamilcar Barca created a powerful empire; Hamilcar's son-in-law Hasdrubal developed it in the face of Roman opposition, and Hannibal and his two brothers led it to its apogee, posing a critical threat to Rome before Carthage's final catastrophic defeat.

'The Carthaginians' reveals the complex culture, society and achievements of a famous, yet misunderstood ancient people. Beginning as Phoenician settlers in North Africa, the Carthaginians then broadened their civilisation with influences from neighbouring North African peoples, Egypt and the Greek world.

The Roman empire extended over three continents, and all its lands came to share a common culture, bequeathing a legacy vigorous even today. A Companion to Roman Imperialism, written by a distinguished body of scholars, explores the extraordinary phenomenon of Rome's rise to empire to reveal the impact which this had on her subject peoples and on the Romans themselves. The Companion analyses how Rome's internal affairs and international relations reacted on each other, sometimes with violent results, why some lands were annexed but others ignored or given up, and the ways in which...

The Carthaginians reveals the complex culture, society and achievements of a famous, yet misunderstood, ancient people. Beginning as Phoenician settlers in North Africa, the Carthaginians then broadened their civilization with influences from neighbouring North African peoples, Egypt, and the Greek world. Their own cultural influence in turn spread across the Western Mediterranean as they imposed dominance over Sardinia, western Sicily, and finally southern Spain.

As a stable republic Carthage earned respectful praise from Greek observers, notably Aristotle, and from many...

The Roman empire existed before there were Roman emperors. The imperial Republic began its expansion in the third century BC. This imperium populi Romani not only expanded but evolved steadily over five centuries, enfranchising more and more of its subjects until from AD 212 there were no freeborn non-Romans left. Some of the most famous names in ancient history either promoted or opposed Rome's imperial fortunes, among them Hannibal, Scipio Africanus, Boudicca, Vercingetorix, Antony and Cleopatra, Trajan, Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius. In this comprehensive new survey, the first to span the...

The Roman empire existed before there were Roman emperors. The imperial Republic began its expansion in the third century BC. This imperium populi Romani not only expanded but evolved steadily over five centuries, enfranchising more and more of its subjects until from AD 212 there were no freeborn non-Romans left. Some of the most famous names in ancient history either promoted or opposed Rome's imperial fortunes, among them Hannibal, Scipio Africanus, Boudicca, Vercingetorix, Antony and Cleopatra, Trajan, Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius. In this comprehensive new survey, the first to span the...