Zama 202 BC: Scipio crushes Hannibal in North Africa

Osprey Campaign #299

by Mir Bahmanyar, Peter Dennis (Illustrations)

The battle of Zama, fought across North Africa around 202 BC, was the final large-scale clash of arms between the world's two greatest western powers of the time--Carthage and Rome. The engagement ended the Second Punic War, waged from 218 until 201 BC. The armies were led by two of the most famous commanders of all time--the legendary Carthaginian general Hannibal, renowned for crossing the Alps with his army into Italy, and the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio, who along with his father was among the defeated at the battle of Cannae in 216 BC.

Drawing upon years of research, author Mir Bahmanyar gives a detailed account of this closing battle, analyzing the tactics employed by each general and the forces they had at their disposal. Stunning, specially commissioned artwork brings to life the epic clash that saw Hannibal defeated and Rome claim its spot as the principal Mediterranean power.

Genres: History, Military Fiction, Ancient History, Ancient, Nonfiction, Military History

96 pages, Paperback

Published September 20, 2016

Reviews

[Glyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good analysis of the campaign that covers all the points without really offering anything new except for the analysis of the Numidian impact. The author takes an attitude strangely similar to that Peter Hofschroer takes on German involvement at Waterloo. To him it was the Numidians won the battle and he expends quite a bit of energy hypothesising what they could have been doing and where, In the face of the fact that no ancient source records them being present in the battle line except on the wings he places them in the centre of the fighting, purely because their recorded casualties (in Polybius account) were higher than the Roman ones. He may well have a point but arguing from silence is always a dangerous academic game to play.

[Hunter Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually appreciate the warm up to the battle, but this one the battle doesn't even start until page 47. There is too much non-concise preamble and lots of telling us 4-5 different things could have happened. You are the historian. Tell us what you think happened and put controversies in the footnotes. Some people may like that and I had to do it for college and grad school for grades, but I am past that and I don't want ten versions of the same event.

[James Livermore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding account of a major Roman victory which was by no means certain but assured with Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus.

[Luis Arturo Mantilla Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The climatic battle of the second Punic War, this is an interesting work although the source is one side, as is mostly from roman sources that we know about the battle. The site of the battle is even unknown today. Nevertheless the account of the battle itself tend to be detailed and gave the impression or sense of first hand account. Great red