Second Punic War

Dramatic, torchlit scene of a boy putting his hand on an altar, symbolizing the oath against Rome.

The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 1: The Blood Oath and the Logistical Gamble

The Hannibalic Paradox: Genius, Grand Strategy, and the Fall of Carthage 1 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 1: The Blood Oath and the Logistical Gamble 2 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 2: Cannae and the High Cost of Tactical Perfection 3 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 3: Why Hannibal's Grand Strategy Failed in Italy 4 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 4: Scipio's Strategic Reversal in Iberia and Africa 5 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 5: The Fateful Encounter and the Price of Punic Caution ← Series Home 237 BC Year of Hannibal's oath ...

A map-like diagram showing military formations at Cannae: red lines (Romans) pushed into a blue crescent (Carthaginians), with flanking maneuvers completing the encirclement.

The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 2: Cannae and the High Cost of Tactical Perfection

The Hannibalic Paradox: Genius, Grand Strategy, and the Fall of Carthage 1 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 1: The Blood Oath and the Logistical Gamble 2 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 2: Cannae and the High Cost of Tactical Perfection 3 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 3: Why Hannibal's Grand Strategy Failed in Italy 4 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 4: Scipio's Strategic Reversal in Iberia and Africa 5 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 5: The Fateful Encounter and the Price of Punic Caution ← Series Home 216 BC Year of the Battle of Cannae ...

Cinematic scene of a Roman general (Scipio) watching huge fires burn in the distance at night.

The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 4: Scipio's Strategic Reversal in Iberia and Africa

The Hannibalic Paradox: Genius, Grand Strategy, and the Fall of Carthage 1 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 1: The Blood Oath and the Logistical Gamble 2 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 2: Cannae and the High Cost of Tactical Perfection 3 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 3: Why Hannibal's Grand Strategy Failed in Italy 4 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 4: Scipio's Strategic Reversal in Iberia and Africa 5 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 5: The Fateful Encounter and the Price of Punic Caution ← Series Home Publius Cornelius Scipio Roman general who defeated Hannibal ...

Detailed photorealistic image of two ancient generals meeting on horseback on a dusty plain.

The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 5: The Fateful Encounter and the Price of Punic Caution

The Hannibalic Paradox: Genius, Grand Strategy, and the Fall of Carthage 1 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 1: The Blood Oath and the Logistical Gamble 2 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 2: Cannae and the High Cost of Tactical Perfection 3 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 3: Why Hannibal's Grand Strategy Failed in Italy 4 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 4: Scipio's Strategic Reversal in Iberia and Africa 5 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 5: The Fateful Encounter and the Price of Punic Caution ← Series Home 203 BC Hannibal's return to Africa ...