Hi all
I got to write something about the reasons why Hannibal did choose the way over the Alps instead of the seeway. So does anyone know any good sources? A comparison of the Roman fleet and the Carthaginian one would also be great.
Thank you
Andy

bradshawt is correct.

After the first war between Rome and Carthage (First Punic War), Carthage was forced to surrender their superior navy. At the beginning of the second war between Rome and Carthage (Second Punic War), Hannibal didn't have the naval ability to carry an army of 100,000 men and 30 elephants safely to Italy.

So he marched over the Pyreneese and Alp mountain ranges.

As part of the peace settlement during the first punic war Carthage was not allowed to have any real sizable navy meaning that a naval crossing would have been impossible. A good text for overall carthaginian history is the fall of Carthage by Adrian Goldsworthy.

man i got excited, i thought this was about hannibal lecter not the punic war hannibal.

Hannibal had some forces invade a naval port in Iberia (Spain) to draw the Roman navy away from the mainland. So I imagine he didn't want to run the risk of running into the Roman armada by taking the sea route. Much of his campaign was reliant on the element of surprise. Sorry I can't recommend any good texts, but this should at least give you some context as to what to look for specifically.