The topic about what began the Second Punic War has been discussed by many Historians. Polybius and Livy, the main authorities, in regards to the battle differ in their opinion about what exactly initiated battle between Rome and Carthage. Before the start of the Second Punic War, Carthage had recently faced defeat in the Sicilian War. Hamilcar Barca had not come to terms with his defeat. Polybius notes: His spirit remained unbowed after the Sicilian War; he remained imprisoned and watched out for a chance to attack. Hamilcar's best efforts would have been directed towards restarting war with Rome and ensuring that it would happen. As a result of their defeat, Carthaginian power began to decline and the Romans took advantage of this opportunity. That action is depicted in this quote from Adrian Goldsworthy, "However, in the closing stages of the rebellion, they seized Sardinia and threatened a renewal of war if Carthage resisted." The Roman action was blatantly cynical and emphasized just how far Carthaginian power had declined since their defeat. As time went on and command of the Carthaginian army was passed along to Hasdrubal, and then Hannibal, they continued their siege against Rome. .
The two felt the same hate towards Rome that their predecessor had felt. Gregory Daly states, "The facts themselves bear this out, because it was thanks to Hamilcar that both Hasdrubal (who was married to his daughter) and Hannibal (his son) became lifelong, fanatical enemies of Rome. "5 Hannibal would eventually break an agreement made between Hasdrubal and the Romans and make advances at an ally of Rome named Saguntum. The Romans took notice of this taking place and sent representatives to Carthage with warnings. In 220 B.C., with Hannibal in charge Carthage enacted an assault against Saguntum. Quoted from Livy, "Meanwhile, Hannibal took to the field and advanced from New Carthage towards Saguntum.
Scipio prevailed over Hannibal, eventually defeating the Carthaginians at the battle of Zama. ... The result was the battle at Cannae. ... His cavalry won the battle on the wings. ... Scipio employed the same strategy Hannibal had used in Cannae. ... As he anticipated, the Roman cavalry won and swept around the back of the Carthaginians. ...
Hannibal left in the cold winter of 218 B.C. with 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, and 37 war elephants. ... As the two groups met, Hannibal's cavalry took the lead and moved up the sides and attacked the rear of the Roman line. ... The Carthaginian government was worried and recalled Hannibal's army from Italy. After Hannibal arrived in Africa, he challenged Scipio's army in the last battle of the war. Hannibal tried to repeat his Cannae plan again, but the Roman cavalry was too sharp. ...
Scipio was involved in a few battles with Hannibal including the first major battle, and the Battle of Lake Trebia. ... Hannibal had about 40,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry, and he accepted the challenge. On August 2, 216 B.C., Rome and Carthage met near Cannae. ... Hannibal used his superior battles tactics to crush the Roman cavalry. ... When he returned to Carthage, the Carthaginians rose up against Rome in one last battle in 202 B.C. ...
Hannibal Barca, undefeated in battle until the Battle of Zama, lost a war where he had won his every field of battle because of Roman use of his very own battle tactics against Carthage. ... He followed his father when Hamlicar decided to create a new Carthaginian empire in Spain. ... At this point, one must realize that the Carthaginian army was much different than the organized Roman legion. ... The enemies met on the plains of Cannae. ... The beginning of the Battle of Cannae saw 75,000 Romans against 46,000 of Hannibal. ...
During the Second Punic War, a Carthaginian general, Hannibal, the son of Hamilcar Barca, kept his word when he swore an oath of eternal hatred towards the Romans. ... With lightning speed, he crossed the Pyrenees Alps with an army of 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry and 37 elephants. ... At the battle and defeat of the Romans at the Lake of Trasimene, Hannibal expected that Rome's allies would now attack Carthage. ... Hannibal did get what he wanted however, during the battle at Cannae in 216 BC. ... Hannibal ordered his cavalry to surround the Romans from all sides. ...
(Willis) The Carthaginian leader, Hamiclar Barca, was cornered in Sicily, and surrendered in 241 BC. ... Needless to say, this did make the Carthaginians happy. ... This was not before Rome suffered the two worst military defeats of its history, the Battle of Lake Trasimene ,and the Battle of Cannae. ... After the disastrous battle of Cannae, Rome figured it was best not to engage Hannibal. In 206 Scipio Africanus drove the Carthaginians out of Spain, and his troops invaded Africa. ...
Spain was partly ruled by Carthage and when Hannibal was twenty-five years old he became the Carthaginian in Spain. ... He found himself outnumbered in 216 BCE at Cannae, in Southern Italy. ... "When the Romans attacked, the center of the formation retreated, and the two sides, with the help of Hannibal's superior cavalry, encircled and crushed the Romans."... The Carthaginian army was outnumbered which was the cause of their downfall. ... (Guinness 376) He was a military and political genius that after losing in war, he was still able to recover from such a harsh battle with the Roma...
However, It also must be noted that there was never any real chance of Carthage winning against Rome despite the outcome of early battles or the brilliance of it"s general.Hannibal was the son of the great Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca. ... ~The Crossing~Crossing the Rhone with all his men, cavalry, and elephants, Hannibal was soon to embark on the trek which is probably the favourite and most famous of his movements in history. ... ~The Initial Victories~In spite of this, the first battles which Hannibal conducted have earned him fame as a great tactician. ... The first action between t...