PR-2237IRE Ancient Rome

Enemies of Rome – Hannibal
After losing the islands of Sicily, Corsica and
Sardinia to the Romans, the Carthaginians from
the north African city of Carthage needed to extend
their empire so they invaded and conquered Spain in
the second century BC. Spain was a source of silver,
which could be used to pay tribute to Rome, and a
country where mercenaries (soldiers who fight for
anyone in return for money) could be found for
Carthaginian armies.
Their commanding general in Spain was a brilliant
29-year-old military leader called Hannibal, who
despised the Romans. During the second Punic war,
Roman warships controlled the Mediterranean Sea,
so Hannibal surprised the Romans by marching
through northern Spain in 218 BC with over 35 000
men and 38 war elephants—used to break up enemy
battle formations. After ferrying the elephants across
the River Rhone on rafts, he crossed the Alps in winter
and marched into Italy. His army was now reduced to
about 25 000 men because of the intense cold and
attacks by fierce mountain tribes, but it was increased
to around 40 000 by enlisting Gauls, traditional
enemies of Rome.
Hannibal’s army won battle after battle and killed
50 000 legionaries at Cannae in 216 BC. Though he
never conquered Rome itself, Hannibal fought in Italy
for 16 years and suffered no heavy defeats. Being
unsuccessful against Hannibal in Italy, the Romans
invaded and conquered Spain and then attacked
Carthage. When they destroyed Carthage in 146 BC
after over 100 years of war between the two nations,
Rome became the most powerful nation in the
Mediterranean region.
Hannibal returned to Carthage but was finally defeated
at Zama in 202 BC by the military commander Scipio.
Hannibal was on the run from the Romans for years
until he poisoned himself in 182 BC.
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Activity Box
Hannibal’s crossing of the Alps is one of history’s greatest military strategies. Imagine you’re an ancient
chronicler with his army. Describe the crossing.
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