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Background Information Genius The peace treaty from the first war was very harsh and unfair. After losing the war, it was impossible for Carthage to fulfill every part of the treaty (especially paying huge sums of money). Rome continued to be aggressive and add land to their growing republic. Not long after the First Punic War, a hero by the name of Hamlicar Barca helped Carthage gain lands in Spain. He was a member of a rich/powerful family and he vowed to get revenge on Rome from the First Punic War. He taught his son both his skill in battle and his hatred of Rome. His son's name was Aftermath and Peace terms In his next battle, Hannibal was outnumbered almost two to one. Romans took up a position along the Trebbia River. Hannibal did not dare to cross the river in the face of superior forces. Hannibal tricked them into crossing the Trebbia by sending some troops across the river. As soon as the Romans attacked, these began retreating, luring the Romans across the river. It was winter, and the river was chest-high, so the Romans emerged on the other side half-frozen. Hannibal had attacked early in the morning and the Roman commander did not give his men time to eat. The Carthaginians, on the other hand, had eaten well, been warmed by their fires, and had oiled their bodies to protect from the cold. Hannibal had taken a thousand cavalry and a thousand infantry and had hidden them in the brush. Once the Romans were in position, out came the soldiers from In a single year, Hannibal had destroyed two full Roman armies. He continued to fight and upset the Romans battle after battle. In some cases, just the rumor that Hannibal was in the neighborhood was enough to make Roman troops retreat. The Romans then did something that would change the war. They decided to attack the capital of Carthage. By doing this in 203 B.C. Hannibal had to return to his homeland to protect his city. After some time and losses in Battle, Hannibal and Carthage could no longer continue the war. The End of the Second Punic War In 202 BC Rome's second war with Carthage came to an end. Rome again forced Carthage to 1) give up her entire empire. Spain, the islands, North Africa, her navy, her army 2) have no foreign policy but became a client of Rome. 3) should armed Carthaginians cross their border it automatically meant war with Rome. In the Beginning… Hannibal knew one of the reasons for the power of Rome was because it had so many people and allies. People under the control of Rome were starting to get restless and unhappy. So Hannibal had a plan to attack the city of Rome. He believed that if he could gain some early victories, Rome’s allies would leave and Hannibal could crush his hated enemy. With Hannibal marching through Spain, Rome started to take notice. War started in 218 B.C. in Spain. The 2 nd Hannibal was now in Italy. The Romans were now alarmed. Hannibal had escaped from one trap after another and was earning for himself a reputation among the Romans as superhuman. Turning Hannibal was a military genius and won early battles in Spain. He still needed to cross the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain, fight his way through France and then cross the Alps. This was not going to be easy. One example of Hannibal’s military genius was at the Rhone river. He had an army of 38,000 infantry, 8,000 Calvary and 37 war elephants. He sent his brother around the enemies to ambush them from an unexpected position. He then crossed the river on pontoon boats that he had built. He cleverly put dirt on the boats to make it look like land so he could get the war elephants on board and across the river. This victory sent shockwaves to Rome who feared a direct attack on their city. But now, Hannibal had to deal with the Alps. The mountains themselves were dangerous, anyone who Lorem Ipsum Figh Rome and Carthage
