Hannibal’s Invasion
In Hannibal’s Invasion: From Alps to Annihilation, archaeologist and historian Richard Miles explains how Carthaginian general Hannibal wanted to assert Carthage as the dominant power in the region. He marched through Spain and over the Alps to attack Italy from the north. During the second Punic War, Hannibal led the slaughter of more than 50,000 men during the Battle of Cannae, which left a lasting trauma on the Romans. But there was one Roman general, Scipio, who incorporated Hannibal’s tactics into his approach. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Ancient Worlds, an epic series with archaeologist and historian Richard Miles as he explores the roots of civilization from Mesopotamia to the fall of the Roman Empire.
Lesson Express
Q: What was Hannibal’s idea for attacking the Romans?
A: Hannibal planned to attack Rome by taking the war directly into Italy. He led his army across the Alps to confront the Romans on their own territory.
Q: What was Hannibal’s motivation for attacking Rome?
A: Hannibal’s motivation was to force the Romans to acknowledge Carthage as an equal or superior power.
Q: Where did Rome suffer its most costly defeat against Hannibal?
A: Rome’s most devastating defeat came at the Battle of Cannae in 216BC. Hannibal used an innovative tactic to envelop the Roman army, trapping and annihilating over 50,000 Roman soldiers in a brutal, bloody battle.
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