HKB
11 passages · search this phrase →
Often appears with: public finance and debt · money, coin, and credit · roman currency debasement · conquest, plunder, and captives · value, price, and exchange · public debt reduction · military discipline and training · fate, destiny, and necessity · debt arithmetic · tempsa · tactical command responsibility · strategy and the aims of war
Usually: argument (7) · detachment (4) · commentary or gloss (3) · censure (2) · curiosity (2) · narrative (1) · ambition and its cost (1) · betrayal (1) · praise (1) · skepticism (1)
“Let them, therefore, who have read history recollect what long-continued wars, having various issues and entailing woful slaughter, were waged by the ancient Romans, in accordance with the general truth that the earth, like the tempestuous deep, is subject to agitations from tempests--tempests of such evils, in various degrees,--and let them sometimes confess what they do not like to own, and not, by madly speaking against God, destroy themselves and deceive the ignorant.” Augustine (Aurelius Augustine), Saint of Hippo, The City of God, Volume I · insight
“By combining the three Roman operations into one, a debt of a hundred and twenty-eight millions of our present money, might in this manner be reduced all at once to a debt of L.5,333,333 : 6 : 8.” Adam Smith, An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth · observation
“For, as the proverb has it, the experiment should be made “on the worthless Carian”[11] not on the general.” Polybius, The Histories of Polybius, Vol. 2 (of 2) · precept
“By combining the three Roman operations into one, a debt of a hundred and twenty-eight millions of our present money, might in this manner be reduced all at once to a debt of L.5,333,333 : 6 : 8.” Adam Smith, An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth · insight
“Even the enormous debt of Great Britain might in this manner soon be paid.” Adam Smith, An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth · observation
“There is besides a story, that Hannibal, when about nine years old, while he boyishly coaxed his father Hamilcar that he might be taken to Spain, was conducted to the altar; and, having laid his hand on the offerings, was bound by an oath to prove himself, as soon as he could, an enemy to the Roman people.” Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Books 09 to 26 · precept
“For never did any states and nations more efficient in their resources engage in contest; nor had they themselves at any other period so great a degree of power and energy.” Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Books 09 to 26 · insight
Livy begins the account of the Second Punic War, praising the scale and hatred of Romans and Carthaginians, and recounts Hannibal’s boyhood oath to oppose Rome promised to his father Hamilcar.
_Origin of the second Punic war. Hannibal's character. In violation of a treaty, he passes the Iberus. Besieges Saguntum, and at length takes it. The Romans send ambassadors to Carthage; declare war. Hannibal crosses the Pyrenees: makes his way through Gaul; then crosses the Alps; defeats the Romans at the Ticinus. The Romans again defeated at the Trebia. Cneius Cornelius Scipio defeats the Carthaginians in Spain, an…
Strabo’s notes say Temesa was colonized by Romans after the Second Punic War and that the Romans called it Tempsa in 195 BCE.
it serves to confirm the accounts of the iniquity and barbarity of a prince, whose mean and imbecile conduct at other times sanctions the notion that his intellect was disordered. [2158] We could almost wish to read this passage—“rendered them more plausible, but impaired their utility.” [2159] The ancient Halex. [2160] Although Strabo ascribes Mamertium to the Bruttii, it is more probable that it was a colony of …
Smith continues that after the Second Punic War Rome fielded standing armies, conquering Macedon and usually defeating Greek, Syrian, and Egyptian militias, while noting limitations in conquering Parthia and Germany.
joined it, and, at the battle of Zama, composed the greater part of the troops of Annibal. The event of that day determined the fate of the two rival republics. From the end of the second Carthaginian war till the fall of the Roman republic, the armies of Rome were in every respect standing armies. The standing army of Macedon made some resistance to their arms. In the height of their grandeur, it cost them two grea…
Smith cites Roman coin debasement during the Second Punic War, arguing successive reductions of the as could mathematically shrink a huge public debt, suggesting Great Britain could similarly pay off debt.
of supporting any part of their civil or military establishments in time of peace; and endeavour to accommodate her future views and designs to the real mediocrity of her circumstances. FOOTNOTES: [1] It is mentioned, that when about three years old, he was stolen from the door of his uncle, Mr. Douglas, in Strathenry, where his mother had been on a visit, by some tinkers, or gypsies. He was rescued in Leslie wood …
Smith describes Roman debasement of the aes during the Second Punic War and argues that repeated reductions could shrink a large debt, even implying Britain’s enormous debt could be paid off this way.
[27] See Ruddiman's Preface to Anderson's Diplomata, &c. Scotiæ. [28] The method described in the text was by no means either the must common or the most expensive one in which those adventurers sometimes raised money by circulation. It frequently happened, that A in Edinburgh would enable B in London to pay the first bill of exchange, by drawing, a few days before it became due, a second bill at three months date u…
A repeated passage explains that during the Second Punic War the Roman as was reduced by successive debasements, and that combining operations would reduce a theoretical debt to a small fraction.
Portugal coin } Guineas } B--310 per mark. Louis d'ors, new } Ditto old 300 New ducats 4 19 8 per ducat. Bar or ingot gold is received in proportion to its fineness, compared with the above foreign gold coin. Upon fine bars the bank gives 340 per mark. In general, however, something more is given upon coin of a known fineness, than upon gold and silver bars, of which the fineness cannot be ascertained but by a proce…
This passage continues the running note on Smith’s discussion of Roman coin debasement, again linking the reductions of the as to a greatly reduced public-debt figure.
[62] Memoires concernant les Droits, &c. tom. ii. p. 17. [63] Lib. 55. See also Burman, de Vectigalibus Pop. Rom. cap. xi. and Bouchaud de l'impot du vingtieme sur les successions. [64] See Memoires concernant les Droits, &c. tom. i. p. 225. [65] Memoires concernant les Droits, &c. tom. i. p. 154. [66] Id. p. 157. [67] Memoires concernant les Droits, &c. tom. i. p. 223, 224, 225. [68] Memoires concernant les Dr…
It reiterates Smith’s Second Punic War example about reducing Rome’s aes and translating three Roman operations into a large debt reduction figure, continuing the illustrative point.
ib. The exportation of, subjected to a duty higher than the prime cost of, at the pit, 273. The cheapest of all fuel, 370. The tax on absurdly regulated, ib. *Coal mines*, their different degrees of fertility, 70. When fertile, are sometimes unprofitable by situation, ib. The proportion of rent generally paid for, ib., 71. The machinery necessary to, expensive, 112. *Coal trade* from Newcastle to London…
Discusses how the Roman as was repeatedly reduced in the Second Punic War, letting a large debt be converted at once into a much smaller notional debt, showing debt could be paid sooner.
*Glasgow*, the trade of, doubled in fifteen years, by erecting banks there, 120. Why a city of greater trade than Edinburgh, 138. *Gold*, not the standard value in England, 16. Its value measured by silver, 17. Reformation of the gold coin, ib. Mint price of gold in England, ib. The working the mines of, in Peru, very unprofitable, 71. Qualities for which this metal is valued, 72. The proportionate v…
Augustine asserts that God determines the length and outcomes of wars, listing Punic wars and other campaigns, and rebuking Christians’ critics when wars last longer than expected.
22. *The durations and issues of war depend on the will of God.* Thus also the durations of wars are determined by Him as He may see meet, according to His righteous will, and pleasure, and mercy, to afflict or to console the human race, so that they are sometimes of longer, sometimes of shorter duration. The war of the Pirates and the third Punic war were terminated with incredible celerity. Also the war of the fug…
During the Second Punic War, Roman consuls reconnoiter a hill near Hannibal’s camp; Numidians ambush them, kill Consul Claudius Marcellus, scatter the rest, and Polybius draws tactical lessons about exposing leaders.
[Sidenote: Death of the Consul M. Claudius Marcellus.] +32.+ The Consuls, wishing to reconnoitre the slope of the hill towards the enemy’s camp, ordered their main force to remain in position; while they themselves with two troops of cavalry, their lictors, and about thirty velites advanced to make the reconnaisance. Now some Numidians, who were accustomed to lie in ambush for those who came on skirmishes, or any ot…