After the first Punic War, Carthage had conquered lands in Hispanic.

Hamilcar had Defeated a rebellion of the Mercenaries in Carthage's army, in what was known as The Truceless war.

Hamilcar and the Barca clan led the invasions and conquests of Hispanic

Signed a treaty that stated that land below the Ebro river was within their sphere of Influence

Hannibal besieged the city of Saguntum, which sigfhned an agreement with Rome, capturing and sacking the city

Rome had sent an envoy to complain to the Carthaginian government with Peremptory agreements, when refused, declared war.

Crossing of the Alps: Not really a battle. but a significant point in the war. Hannibal led his small force over 15 days through the Alps, surprising many of the Roman forces, who had begun their winter camps. The attack was so sudden, that an invasion of Africa was cancelled in order to keep as many troops back to defend Rome.

Battle fo the Trebbia: First major battle of the war. Hannibal tricked Sempronius, one of the consuls, into a battle on his terms, with an unrested and unfed army. His Numidian cavalry led the Romans on a wild chase, before Hannibal's main army advanced, the much better prepared Carthaginians, accompanied by Baleriac slingers, dealt heavy losses to the Romans. Mago, Hannibal's younger brother, led an ambush force that further damaged the army. 15000 romans were killed, with up to 15000 more captured. 10000 managed to escape back to Placentia. The Cartheginians had only suffered 5000 casualties.

Battle of Lake Trasimine: Another major battle of the war. Gaius Flaminius was tricked into following Hannibal into the mountainous pass next to the Lake. The next day, convent placement of fog concealed most of Hanibal's men, with his elite blocking the path at the other end of the pass. When the entire roman force was inside the pass, the ambush begun, the rearguard was slaughtered by Hanibal's cavalry, many of the romans drowned in the lake or were cut down. 15000 Romans were killed, along with Flaminius, further 15000 were taken prisoner. Carthage lost only 1500

Battle of Cannas: The biggest defeat of the war. Roman armies attacked Hannibal, wh had deliberately placed his weakest troops at his centre. The romans attacked this weakened centre, driving it backwards. The strong elite flanks of Hanibal's forces the encircled the Roman flanks, with his cavalry smashing into the rear, completely enveloping the large roman force with his smaller one. Estimates of the deaths range from Livy's 55000 to Polybius' 70000. It is estimated that 20% fo Roman men aged 18-50 died. 28 of 40 tribunes, 80 magistrates and 00 knights of the Roman equestrian rank.

Battle of Zama: The decisive defeat of Hannibal and Carthage by Scipio the younger. He had invaded Africa and already won ad decisive battle and was making for Carthage. Hannibal was recalled from his Italian campaign to defeat the invading Roman. The elephants of Carthage were uneffective, and soon two of his three lines had been broken. His cavalry routed by the Numidians of Rome. he was then surrounded by these cavalry. 2000 carthagians died, to the Romans 1500. The battle would see Carthage succed to Rome, giving up Spain and much of its territories.

Fabian tactics: The Romans saw the multiple crushing defeats delivered to them by the Carthaginians, as the result of the individual actions of Consuls and generals. Fabian was selected to be dictator for a period of Six months.

• Rome responded to this by attacking Messana and forcing the Carthaginians to withdraw

6. 255 BCE

• Carthage attacked with a new army comprised of cavalry and war elephants, and drove Rome out

9. 240 BCE

• Carthage surrenders & cedes Sicily & the Lipari Islands to Rome & agrees to pay an indemnity

Carthage lost all of its overseas territories, nad Rome gained all of them, increasing its size massively

The Punic Wars: Rome, Carthage and the Struggle for the Mediterranean