Second Punic War I
Hannibal
- One of greatest generals of antiquity
- Belonged to one of leading families of Carthaginian oligarchy
- Acted as long-term governor in Spain
- Decides to provoke war with Rome
- Realizes Roman superiority in manpower
- Takes war to the Roman territory
- Hopes to induce rebellion among Roman allies
- Lays siege to town of Saguntum, Roman ally in Spain
Hannibal's Campaign in Italy
- Takes army to Italy
Drags poor elephants over Alps
- Major but not decisive victories over Romans in 218, 217
- Fabian tactics
- Recognition of Hannibal's superior generalship
- Refusal to confront him directly
- Shadowing Hannibal to keep him from causing too much trouble
- Cannae
- Fabian tactics abandoned
- Massive Roman defeat at Cannae, 216
- Hannibal can't take Rome
- Limited revolts among s. Italian allies
- Most allies stay loyal, esp. in central Italy
- Return to Fabian tactics
- Unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem
- Hannibal never confronted again in Italy
- Spends next decade trashing s. Italy
- Never receives substantial reinforcements
- Romans gradually subdue revolts in Italy, Sicily
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