Ghosts of Cannae Critique

The author immediately sets his degree by describing the outcome of the escort for the Romans in graphic (gory) price. We see clearly what type of encourage this will be. It follows the current trope established by chamberpot Keegan (in The Face of Battle, Viking Press, 1979) to depict warfare in psychological wrong that the author may prescribe for the combatants. OConnell notes that the Romans on this terrible 24 hours lost more casualties than any other Western the States in history. Well, I grow to disagree. The Romans lost by popular count on over 86,000 Roman military plus 40,000 every(prenominal)y troops plus almost as many camping web site followers and service personnel at the battle of Arausio in 105 BC. And then the Russian losings at Borodino were pricy equal to the Romans at Cannae plus the French lost spruce many as well. yet the uniquely horrible character of Cannae will be one of the central reports of this account. The other home is the de plorable condition obligate on the pitiful survivors apply by the implacable Roman senate, that is exile to Sicily. This fact is obviously true - but the POW from several other, later, Roman losings were overly exiled to Sicily. And at Zama the survivors of Cannae formed less than half(a) of Scipios ground forces whose victory was achieved by his gaining the support of Numidian cavalry.

OConnell also sets his bookish stage right onward also, by guide off with the personal view as might have been seen by Polybius, the great historian and principal source for our experience of the conflict. He follows this will an evaluation of Polybius himself and ! his possible motivations. This section is followed by an protracted discussion of the history and temperament of warfare itself from prehistoric times. But the theme is almost entirely psychological - roughly the nature of killing - and the unfortunate human propensity to be a cause of death - with little attention to politics. Setting the psychological stage for Cannae is all well in good, but it is the political place background knowledge that is critical. So I...If you want to get a full essay, art object it on our website: OrderCustomPaper.com

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