2nd Punic War

The Second Punic War broke out in 218 when Hannibal took control of the Greek city and Roman ally, Saguntum (in Spain). Rome, worried more about Gaul and Illyria than Carthage, thought it would be easy to defeat Hannibal and started to get together an army to go to Spain and Carthage. Meanwhile, leaving 20,000 troops with his brother Hasdrubal, Hannibal decided against a naval strategy and instead quickly marched his men and war elephants across the Alps, and went further north on the Rhone River than the Romans expected.

Full Article: 2nd Punic War.

Book Reviews

• Hannibal Crosses the Alps
• Hannibal's Children
• Carthage

Mommsen on Hannibal