Hannibal

BY THE END OF THE FIRST PUNIC WAR AGAINST CARTHAGE, THE ROMANS HAD REDUCED THE CAPITAL CITY OF THE CARTHAGINIAN EMPIRE TO A HEAP OF ASHES AND DESTROYED ITS CULTURE. IN 219 BC, HOWEVER, HANNIBAL, THE ELDEST SON OF THE CHARISMATIC GENERAL HAMILCAR BARCA, BEGAN THE SECOND PUNIC WAR AND WAS SO SUCCESSFUL THAT HE THREATENED TO DESTROY ROMAN POWER COMPLETELY. THE BATTLE OF CANNAE REMAINS A CHEF-D`OEUVRE TO WHICH GENERATIONS OF SUBSEQUENT GENERALS HAVE ASPIRED.