The Second Punic War

1. The Second Punic War

2. End of Saguntum • Hannibal sacks Saguntum thus breaking the treaty between Rome and Carthage. • Rome sends ambassadors to Carthage. • Roman ambassador: We offer you peace or war, which do you choose? • Carthaginian senate: Whichever you please. Decide for yourselves. • Roman ambassador: War, Then, since it must be so.

3. Preparations for War • Carthage builds hundreds of ships and Hannibal starts to move his army past the Ebro river. • Rome builds hundreds of ships and creates two armies, one for each Consul. • Cornelius Scipio- Army to intercept Hannibal in Italy • Sempronius- Army to go to Sicily and then to Africa

4. The Pyrenees • Hannibal’s army must cross the Pyrenees. • 3,000 men desert and head home. • 10,000 more want to leave. • Hannibal’s army is only 100,000 strong. • Hannibal calls the army together and says tells the soldiers that if they aren’t man enough to cross the Pyrenees to go home. He wanted no man in his army lacking the fortitude or courage to cross the Pyrenees or Alps. • The rest of the men stay.

6. Rhone River • Hannibal reaches the Rhone River. • It is a wide fast moving river. • The Gauls oppose him on the far side. • Hannibal makes boats and rafts to carry all his men across. • He makes a big show of his boat building to show the Gauls that he intends to cross here. • During the night he sends Hanno with a small group of men across further up stream.

7. Rhone River • Hannibal and his men make their move across the Rhone. • Right when they are about to make their landing Hanno attacks the Gauls from the rear. • The Gauls are unable to defend themselves on two fronts and they flee. • Hannibal and his men are able to finish the cross without a fight.