Dominic Sandbrook

The Romans were able to anchor one flank on the river and the other on the high ground near Cannae. making it impossible for the Carthaginian horse to envelop their line as they had at Trebia. So I hope that makes sense to the listeners. Right. That makes sense. If you think the Romans come out and on their left flank, you have a ridge of hills and on their right flank, you have a river.

And this means that it's harder for the Carthaginians to outflank them with their cavalry.

And this means that it's harder for the Carthaginians to outflank them with their cavalry.

And this means that it's harder for the Carthaginians to outflank them with their cavalry.

So there's a further advantage, which is that they're not staring into the sun because they're essentially facing kind of roughly southwards. There is one issue, which is that the wind is whipping up the dust. It's kind of late July in southern Italy, so there's quite a lot of dust and they're kind of blowing it into their faces.

So there's a further advantage, which is that they're not staring into the sun because they're essentially facing kind of roughly southwards. There is one issue, which is that the wind is whipping up the dust. It's kind of late July in southern Italy, so there's quite a lot of dust and they're kind of blowing it into their faces.

So there's a further advantage, which is that they're not staring into the sun because they're essentially facing kind of roughly southwards. There is one issue, which is that the wind is whipping up the dust. It's kind of late July in southern Italy, so there's quite a lot of dust and they're kind of blowing it into their faces.

But I think Varro clearly feels that the advantage of the position outweighs that. So his dispositions, infantry in the middle, as ever, Roman cavalry on his right wing. So that's next to the Arphidius, next to the river. And then the Allied cavalry is on the left wing, which is next to the ridge of hills. And their role is purely defensive.

But I think Varro clearly feels that the advantage of the position outweighs that. So his dispositions, infantry in the middle, as ever, Roman cavalry on his right wing. So that's next to the Arphidius, next to the river. And then the Allied cavalry is on the left wing, which is next to the ridge of hills. And their role is purely defensive.

But I think Varro clearly feels that the advantage of the position outweighs that. So his dispositions, infantry in the middle, as ever, Roman cavalry on his right wing. So that's next to the Arphidius, next to the river. And then the Allied cavalry is on the left wing, which is next to the ridge of hills. And their role is purely defensive.

They're always going to be outnumbered and outfought by the Carthaginian horse. Their role is essentially to ensure that the line of infantry can't be attacked on the flanks. And this is really, really important because the goal has to be that the infantry defeats the Carthaginian infantry before the Roman and Italian cavalry can be chased off. And it's the measure of how important this is.

They're always going to be outnumbered and outfought by the Carthaginian horse. Their role is essentially to ensure that the line of infantry can't be attacked on the flanks. And this is really, really important because the goal has to be that the infantry defeats the Carthaginian infantry before the Roman and Italian cavalry can be chased off. And it's the measure of how important this is.

They're always going to be outnumbered and outfought by the Carthaginian horse. Their role is essentially to ensure that the line of infantry can't be attacked on the flanks. And this is really, really important because the goal has to be that the infantry defeats the Carthaginian infantry before the Roman and Italian cavalry can be chased off. And it's the measure of how important this is.

that Varro himself takes up command of the allied cavalry and Paulus leads the Roman cavalry. So very, very important. But obviously it's the infantry that the Romans are pinning their hopes on.

that Varro himself takes up command of the allied cavalry and Paulus leads the Roman cavalry. So very, very important. But obviously it's the infantry that the Romans are pinning their hopes on.

that Varro himself takes up command of the allied cavalry and Paulus leads the Roman cavalry. So very, very important. But obviously it's the infantry that the Romans are pinning their hopes on.

And so we should probably just describe, you know, what they look like, how they're lined up, how they're armed, that kind of thing, because these are not legions, not Roman soldiers of the kind that most people will be familiar with from Gladiator or whatever. This is from a kind of earlier period. And essentially, the Roman infantry is lined up in four distinct ranks.

And so we should probably just describe, you know, what they look like, how they're lined up, how they're armed, that kind of thing, because these are not legions, not Roman soldiers of the kind that most people will be familiar with from Gladiator or whatever. This is from a kind of earlier period. And essentially, the Roman infantry is lined up in four distinct ranks.

And so we should probably just describe, you know, what they look like, how they're lined up, how they're armed, that kind of thing, because these are not legions, not Roman soldiers of the kind that most people will be familiar with from Gladiator or whatever. This is from a kind of earlier period. And essentially, the Roman infantry is lined up in four distinct ranks.

So the first line consists of very lightly armed skirmishers who are called velites. And Polybius specifies that these are the youngest and the poorest. He gives a kind of very detailed account of how the Romans fought in battles. Very groovily, they would often wear wolfskin. Oh, right. Yeah. You have your little spears and you have your wolfskin and...