Politicians and Generals
Would a more “distributed” system of power, as opposed to all power in one man, mean more peace or at least more rational choices during wars? As opposed to an ego driven choice to not stop, or fight to the death? The biography of Hannibal in the Hourly History series helps test that hypothesis. Carthage formerly was more an oligarchy (rule by a few rich men) and Rome was still a republic, and they were at loggerheads. Hannibal’s father, Hamilcar, was put in charge of preventing Rome from expanding south of Sicily: “Despite Hamilcar’s victories on the battlefield, the final move in his chess match with the Romans would not be his to make. Instead, it would be determined by the fat cat, corrupt politicians in Carthage… It was decided in the backroom dealings of Carthage’s ruling elite that they would sue for peace, before Hamilcar’s victory could be declared.” Decades later, his son, Hannibal, arrived at the gates of Rome, and history would repeat itself: “(Carthage...