Hannibal

by Jacob Abbott

Makers of History

Hannibal, first published in 1849, is one of Jacob Abbott's Makers of History, a series of short biographies written for young readers that the author insisted should keep strictly to recorded fact. Abbott begins with Hamilcar, Hannibal's father, and the oath of hatred toward Rome that the boy is said to have sworn, then follows Hannibal through the conquest of Spain, the crossing of the Pyrenees and the Alps with his army and elephants, the victories at the Trebia, Lake Trasimene and Cannae, the long years in Italy, the defeat at Zama and his exile and death. A final chapter tells of the destruction of Carthage. Engravings illustrate the text. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.