Scipio Africanus V. Hannibal The Great

During the Second Punic War (218-201 B.C.) Hannibal the Great led Carthage to convincing victories over the previously invincible Roman armies. Rome was faced with a crisis. With the rise of Hannibal and with him Carthage, Rome turned to a young general named Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus to put an end to Hannibal’s terror. Unlike his predecessors Scipio studied Hannibal and used Hannibal’s own strategy to out maneuver the Carthaginian army. Scipio prevailed over Hannibal, eventually defeating the Carthaginians at the battle of Zama. With this victory Scipio surpassed Hannibal as the greatest military genius of the Ancient World.

Rome had won the First Punic War (264-241 B.C.), but failed to completely suppress Carthage. Shortly after the end of the First Punic War “Hamilcar Barca, a distinguished Carthaginian general of the First Punic War, devoted the remainder of his life to building up the Carthaginian power in Spain to compensate for the loss of Sicily.” Barca’s son, Hannibal eventually became the commander of the Carthaginian forces. Under Hannibal’s command Carthage rose from defeat to once more to test the power of Rome.

Both Scipio Africanus and Hannibal the Great will go down in history as military geniuses. Hannibal, will be remembered for his dynamic leadership, and his innovative strategies. Hannibal’s leadership abilities are unquestionable – despite the multi-cultural collection of criminals and mercenaries that made p his army, Hannibal did not have one single mutiny during the entire Second Punic War. His superior strategy and use of his resources was incredible, but in the end it was his own strategy used against him that led to his downfall.

With the threat of the elephants gone the ground battle took precedence. Scipio employed the same strategy Hannibal had used in Cannae. Instructing his infantry to give way, he had the cavalry execute a flanking procedure. As he anticipated, the Roman cavalry won and swept around the back of the Carthaginians. Over-matched and out-smarted the Carthaginians were soundly defeated. The battle lasted most of the day. In the end Hannibal was defeated so soundly that he instantly returned to Carthage and advised the city to surrender.

In the end Scipio Africanus came out on top. A military genius himself, Scipio not only incorporated his own ideas but used those of Hannibal against the Carthaginians. “On the battlefield of Zama, Scipio not only proved capable of countering each of Hannibal’s points but turned the latter’s own weapon back upon himself to his mortal injury.” For his ingenious strategy and crushing victory at Zama, Scipio was able to achieve military greatness, surpassing, in the eyes of many, Hannibal the Great as the greatest soldier in ancient history.

After the devastating defeat at Lake Trasimeno in the summer of 217 B.C., Rome decided to switch its military leaders and tactics. Fabius Maximus was appointed as the temporary dictator of Rome. Maximus employed a new strategy; he “dogged Hannibal and avoided a head-on conflict.” Maximus engaged in small skirmishes and destroyed the Italian soil in order to prevent Hannibal’s army from replenishing their provisions. This strategy seemed to work as far as protecting Rome from Hannibal. But it had long-lasting impacts upon Rome and was criticized by many

Some topics in this essay:
BC Hannibal, Elder Scipio, Romans Romans, Spanish Gallic, Rome Hannibal, Punic War, Africanus Hannibal, Zama Scipio, Rome Maximus, Carthaginians Romans, punic war, scipio africanus, carthaginian army, military genius, roman army, lake trasimeno, bc hannibal, head head battle, head head, hannibal eventually, defeat romans, scipio africanus hannibal, military genius scipio,