Hamilcar Barca research paper paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Hamilcar Barca - Research Paper Example A review of Hannibal’s early life is important for one to understand what motivated the Carthaginian hero. Hannibal was born to Hamilcar Barca, who was a Carthaginian leader at the time (Antiquity 74). At the time of his birth, Carthaginians and Romans were at supremacy war fighting over the Mediterranean Sea. To this end, the two were expanding their empires and conflict was almost inevitable given the fact that both had the same ambitions. The first punic war lasted from 264-241 BC led by the Barca family from the Carthaginians, and Scipio family from the Romans side. As the war ended, Carthaginians had lost control of Sicily and Sardinia in the western Mediterranean. This infuriated Hamiclar, who was the general commanding the Carthaginians in the first punic war. The humiliation made Hamiclar hate the Romans with a passion (Prevas 40). Scullard writes, â€Å"Hamilcar truly hated Romans after they humiliated the Carthaginians at their forced surrender at Sicily† (184 ). Hannibal was barely 20 years old when he was sent to Spain by the senate after Hasdrubal had insisted that the young Barca needed proper military education. Despite his young age, Hannibal was very eager to learn since he knew that this was preparation for him to rise to power and wage war against Romans. It is said that Hamilcar had â€Å"made his son swear eternal hatred to Rome† (Scullard 184) when he was very young. Hannibal received a warm welcome and immediate recognition among the troops. Prevas says that when Hannibal arrived in Spain, the troops â€Å"saw in this young boy their old commander Hamilcar† (48). As he matured, Hannibal earned more respect from the Carthage army in Spain. Hannibal got political knowledge from Hasdrubal and war competence through experience with the soldiers’ activities. The art of war seemed to come to Hannibal naturally as well (Prevas 48). Prevas further notes that Hannibal never did anything extra than the others, he a te and drank just enough to stay alive, slept on bare ground, and took guard duty just like any other soldier (48). He became a respected, skilled fighter and further learned Latin, the enemy language. Hannibal’s interaction with the soldiers served to build a strong bond with them; this would come in handy in the coming war (Prevas 48-49). Hannibal finally rose to power in 221 BC after violent assassination of Hasdrubal. Hannibal’s intense hatred for the Romans meant that he could not afford to waste any time before he started planning his terror against the Romans. Just like his father, Hannibal was ambitious about conquering lands in Spain. He, therefore, disregarded the treaty that Hasdrubal had signed with the Romans and continued expanding his territory west. Hannibal soon acknowledged the fact â€Å"Carthaginian victories in Spain would not break the power of Rome† (Scullard 186). Hannibal realized that he had to break the Italian Confederacy to bring dow n Rome. A perfect point for him to start his Rome mission would be Saguntum, a city allied to Rome and between Spain and the Alps (Barnes 1). Hannibal initiated the second punic war by his aggression and seizure over Saguntum in 219 BC, which the Romans considered an act of war, (Barnes 1). This act made the Romans furious, and they â€Å"ordered the Carthaginian government to hand Hannibal over to them† (Michael 98). Hannibal ignored the threats and proceeded to plot entry to Italy; he realized that to keep both Carthage and