We all know the stories of Hannibal and Carthage...But it is the time and the hows that make these accounts legendary. Prior to 264 Rome and Carthage lived basically as neighbors with no real quarrels. All it took was a small city called Messana to mess that all up. Granted it took over 100 years from this little quarrel to the actual fall of Carthage but the dominoes were tipped and the eventual end of the great city of Carthage was soon to be seen. In 218 Hannibal got his greatest wish and the opportunity to deal with Rome came. Hannibal first fell into legend with his trek across the alps with his war elephants. The cost of this trek was never as well known as the fact that he made it. When he arrived in Italy he only have 2 dozen elephants. But what most don't realize is that Hannibal was not the only one to make this trek. His brother Hasdrubal made this same trek in 208 to come to the aid of his brother who was suffering greatly in southern Italy. The true defeat of Carthage came after Hasdrual was defeated in 207. It took five years for Hannibal to leave Italy after his brothers death but he did return home to help his beloved city face Scipio Africanus who had been in Africa causing problems for Carthage since 204. The True fall of Carthage took place when Carthage was defeated at Zama using the same tactics Hannibal had developed in Italy. It was not long after Hannibal's return that he lost this battle. Even though Hannibal left Carthage and the city continued to trade Rome was not free of the influence of Hannibal. Even after his death the men of Rome feared that they would loose their influence in the African City. The fall of Carthage took place in 202 but Rome spend another 64 years fearing it. In 146 Rome destroyed the city by burning it to the ground. Leaving no habitable location for the people. All of the Carthaginians were sold into Roman slavery and the Roman empire slept easy at night.
It amazes me how one man who had so little when he came to Italy built a reputation that caused Rome to destroy a who city almost 2 full generations after his death. The Roman military learned much from the battles with Hannibal and I think what frightened them most was the fact that Hannibal did everything before them. The Punic Army was a tactical for that is still studied to this day. And I find it funny that the Elephants were so feared that the 2 dozen became hundreds as the legend grew yet Rome came up with an expectational way to defeat them when the numbers were really in the hundreds.
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I was also very impressed with the effect Hannibal had on Rome. It truly is amazing that a man of such humble origins could come to impress such a large nation for so long. It was very interesting to read about Hannibal's journey across the Alps. Floating Elephants across a river is quite a sight to imagine. I wonder if that has ever been depicted in art.
It seems we are all very impressed with Hannibal. He gave a very powerful Roman army a whooping, and if not for the lack of support from the Roman allies, he would have marched on Rome itself. It’s very ironic that the Romans employed that same envelope tactic that Hannibal had perfected in order to defeat Carthage. In Rome’s credit as you stated they learned from their mistakes, and made key adjustments at the right time. The whole idea of having elephants charging on the battle is so crazy to me. Although the Romans eventually dodged that bullet, can you imaging being a soldier and seeing elephant charging at you? I would be shaking in my boots.
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