George P. Baker, popular British historian of the 1920s and 30s, covers the life and career of ancient Rome's most formidable opponent, Hannibal of Carthage. Beginning with an overview of the rise of Carthage and Rome's first conflict with that power, he describes Hannibal's life and his campaign in the Second Punic War. After crossing the Alps and invading Italy from the north, Hannibal masterminded several massive victories on the Italian peninsula which came close to crippling Rome. Through the foresight and skills of Quintus Fabius Maximus, and later Publius Scipio, Hannibal and Carthage were forced to capitulate after the Battle of Zama in northern Africa. The Second Punic War helped push Rome from a small city in central Italy to world power controling much of the Mediterranean. The book follows Hannibal through his death in Bithynia c. 181 BC. - Summary by Mark Harrington