Week #5- Daily #3- Please write a brief biography of Hannibal and explain whether or not you think his reputation (in Roman eyes) as a monster was deserved.

     One of the greatest leaders, Hannibal, was born in 247 B.C. Hannibal was the son of Hamilcar Barca, and he was raised to hate the Romans. When he was just a kid, he swore an oath to eternal hatred to the Roman name. His father took him along on a Spanish expedition when he was nine years old. When he took command, he brought his men into Spain and fought with elephants. Hannibal was a Carthaginian military commander and tactician. He had a reputation for bravery and strategic skill. He and his army crossed the Pyrenees Mountains and through the Alps. They went down through Italy to southern Italy, and then towards Rome. He won three battles: The Battle of Trebia, The Battle of Lake Trasimene, and the Battle of Cannae. He made many allies. The Romans became very scared of Hannibal. He was like the boogeyman to them. After many expeditions, Hannibal was demanded by the Romans.  He could not find any way to escape, so he decided to poison himself. The reputation of Hannibal as a monster in the Romans’ eyes was definitely deserved. He had sworn to be an enemy since he was a kid. He obliterated the Roman reputation by conquering them in the Battle of Cannae. The Romans must have been embarrassed to be destroyed so easily. They must have been deeply scared of Hannibal.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannibal

http://www.sacklunch.net/biography/H/Hannibal.html