Reviews for First Punic War A Military History

The average rating for First Punic War A Military History based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-02-06 00:00:00 Craig Reimer The first Punic War between Carthage and Rome ran from 264 - 241 BC, for 23 years, the longest war in ancient history and one of the longest wars ever. Roman census figures show that 17% of adult Roman males were lost during that period. Historical records of the war are scanty. The Roman historian Polybius lived during and wrote about the second Punic War, but he had to rely on other than first-hand sources for the first one. Lazenby compiled all the sources he could get his hands on, including Polybius, but also including Greek and Roman sources from other eras. Lazenby's book was the first to put these findings in one place as a standalone and not as a prelude or introduction to the other Punic Wars. Lazenby wrote a scholarly yet utterly readable account of the events, from the sending of Roman ships across the Straits of Messina in response to a plea from the Mammertines, which started the whole thing off, to the final battle off Aegates Island west of Lilybeum, now Marsala, Sicily. In 264 Carthage controlled a narrow but very long strip along the coast of North Africa, from west of modern day Egypt through the Straits of Gibraltar and down the western African coast. She also controlled an extensive area in Spain, the entire island of Sardinia, and much of Sicily. Rome at that time was a republic controlling most of the Italian peninsula but had not yet become a major power. Lazenby points out their differences: Carthage's army was mercenary. Rome's was comprised of citizens and allies. Carthage had a large and strong naval fleet. Rome depended on its allies for ships and sailors but had a strong infantry. Carthage used elephants as well as cavalry and foot soldiers. Rome used cavalry but depended mostly on its foot soldiers. Yet Rome learned how to fight at sea quickly. She built her own fleet using a captured or salvaged quinquereme as a model. Someone figured out how to number the parts and set up mass production. Rome also engineered a novel device, the corvus, to allow easy boarding of opposition ships. Once a ship is boarded, the battle becomes more like one conducted on land, where Romans had the advantage. Rome also was willing to go back again to a place where they had been defeated - to go back and try again, and again if necessary. Ultimately, in Lazenby's view, it was this willingness of the Romans to persist in the face of loss, as opposed to the willingness of the Carthaginian army to accept a win or loss for what it was and to do no follow-up, that made the difference. Rome won the first Punic War by fighting almost entirely in Sicily or in Sicilian waters. At the beginning of the war, Carthage held most of the island, with Greece holding only a small area in the southeast, Syracuse and environs. By the end of the war, Carthage held only a tiny area in the west, Lilybeum and environs. The stage was set for the second Punic War. Highly recommended for its gentle scholarship, quiet sense of humor, and thoroughly readable account of the first Punic War.

Review # 2 was written on 2007-08-12 00:00:00 Patricia Mannone I normally love books like these... but, I could just not get into this one. I tried to keep reading, but I couldn't get interested in anything that was written. I'm guessing it is a brilliant book, just not for me.