Cornelius Nepos, Life Of Hannibal: Latin Text, Notes, Maps, Illustrations And Vocabulary
by Bret Mulligan /
2015 / English / PDF
39.2 MB Download
Trebia. Trasimene. Cannae. With three stunning victories, Hannibal
humbled Rome and nearly shattered its empire. Even today Hannibal's
brilliant, if ultimately unsuccessful, campaign against Rome during
the Second Punic War (218-202 BC) make him one of history's most
celebrated military leaders. This biography by Cornelius Nepos (c.
100-27 BC) sketches Hannibal's life from the time he began
traveling with his father's army as a young boy, through his
sixteen-year invasion of Italy and his tumultuous political career
in Carthage, to his perilous exile and eventual suicide in the
East. As Rome completed its bloody transition from dysfunctional
republic to stable monarchy, Nepos labored to complete an
innovative and influential collection of concise biographies.
Putting aside the detailed, chronological accounts of military
campaigns and political machinations that characterized most
writing about history, Nepos surveyed Roman and Greek history for
distinguished men who excelled in a range of prestigious
occupations. In the exploits and achievements of these illustrious
men, Nepos hoped that his readers would find models for the
honorable conduct of their own lives. Although most of Nepos' works
have been lost, we are fortunate to have his biography of Hannibal.
Nepos offers a surprisingly balanced portrayal of a man that most
Roman authors vilified as the most monstrous foe that Rome had ever
faced. Nepos' straightforward style and his preference for common
vocabulary make Life of Hannibal accessible for those who are just
beginning to read continuous Latin prose, while the historical
interest of the subject make it compelling for readers of every
ability.
Trebia. Trasimene. Cannae. With three stunning victories, Hannibal
humbled Rome and nearly shattered its empire. Even today Hannibal's
brilliant, if ultimately unsuccessful, campaign against Rome during
the Second Punic War (218-202 BC) make him one of history's most
celebrated military leaders. This biography by Cornelius Nepos (c.
100-27 BC) sketches Hannibal's life from the time he began
traveling with his father's army as a young boy, through his
sixteen-year invasion of Italy and his tumultuous political career
in Carthage, to his perilous exile and eventual suicide in the
East. As Rome completed its bloody transition from dysfunctional
republic to stable monarchy, Nepos labored to complete an
innovative and influential collection of concise biographies.
Putting aside the detailed, chronological accounts of military
campaigns and political machinations that characterized most
writing about history, Nepos surveyed Roman and Greek history for
distinguished men who excelled in a range of prestigious
occupations. In the exploits and achievements of these illustrious
men, Nepos hoped that his readers would find models for the
honorable conduct of their own lives. Although most of Nepos' works
have been lost, we are fortunate to have his biography of Hannibal.
Nepos offers a surprisingly balanced portrayal of a man that most
Roman authors vilified as the most monstrous foe that Rome had ever
faced. Nepos' straightforward style and his preference for common
vocabulary make Life of Hannibal accessible for those who are just
beginning to read continuous Latin prose, while the historical
interest of the subject make it compelling for readers of every
ability.