Dominic Sandbrook

They understand also how important a role that they have, how important it is that they maintain their position for as long as they possibly can. And Daly in his book explains why it was absolutely necessary for the peculiar crescent formation to be maintained. so that the thin horns of the crescent, so that's the two flanks, would be kept out of the fighting for as long as possible.

They understand also how important a role that they have, how important it is that they maintain their position for as long as they possibly can. And Daly in his book explains why it was absolutely necessary for the peculiar crescent formation to be maintained. so that the thin horns of the crescent, so that's the two flanks, would be kept out of the fighting for as long as possible.

Because if the troops there broke early in the battle, the entire Carthaginian plan would collapse. So in other words, it's vital for Hannibal that the Roman forces are funneled into the centre so that they can go into the kind of the mouth of these two Libyan jaws that are waiting to snap shut on them. It's a very kind of grinding clash, It's kind of man on man.

Because if the troops there broke early in the battle, the entire Carthaginian plan would collapse. So in other words, it's vital for Hannibal that the Roman forces are funneled into the centre so that they can go into the kind of the mouth of these two Libyan jaws that are waiting to snap shut on them. It's a very kind of grinding clash, It's kind of man on man.

Because if the troops there broke early in the battle, the entire Carthaginian plan would collapse. So in other words, it's vital for Hannibal that the Roman forces are funneled into the centre so that they can go into the kind of the mouth of these two Libyan jaws that are waiting to snap shut on them. It's a very kind of grinding clash, It's kind of man on man.

And effectively, the whole line is this kind of series of duels between Gauls and Spaniards against Romans. The Romans and the Spaniards are both armed with stabbing swords, so they're aiming at the abdomen. The Gauls have slashing swords, so they're aiming at the shoulders.

And effectively, the whole line is this kind of series of duels between Gauls and Spaniards against Romans. The Romans and the Spaniards are both armed with stabbing swords, so they're aiming at the abdomen. The Gauls have slashing swords, so they're aiming at the shoulders.

And effectively, the whole line is this kind of series of duels between Gauls and Spaniards against Romans. The Romans and the Spaniards are both armed with stabbing swords, so they're aiming at the abdomen. The Gauls have slashing swords, so they're aiming at the shoulders.

And most of the wounds, because both sides have shields, are probably to parts of the body that aren't protected by either the shield or by armour. So that's heads... legs, sword arms. If you get too many wounds on your leg or your arm or to your head, then obviously you start to weaken. You might lose your balance, your ability to continue fighting. You might fall to the ground.

And most of the wounds, because both sides have shields, are probably to parts of the body that aren't protected by either the shield or by armour. So that's heads... legs, sword arms. If you get too many wounds on your leg or your arm or to your head, then obviously you start to weaken. You might lose your balance, your ability to continue fighting. You might fall to the ground.

And most of the wounds, because both sides have shields, are probably to parts of the body that aren't protected by either the shield or by armour. So that's heads... legs, sword arms. If you get too many wounds on your leg or your arm or to your head, then obviously you start to weaken. You might lose your balance, your ability to continue fighting. You might fall to the ground.

And the moment you fall to the ground, that's it. You're dead. You're going to be a blow to your head. Or just trampled underfoot. Trampled underfoot. And of course, the more bodies are trampled underfoot, the more they rise, the more slippery the ground becomes because blood is starting to spill out and moisten the dust that is everywhere.

And the moment you fall to the ground, that's it. You're dead. You're going to be a blow to your head. Or just trampled underfoot. Trampled underfoot. And of course, the more bodies are trampled underfoot, the more they rise, the more slippery the ground becomes because blood is starting to spill out and moisten the dust that is everywhere.

And the moment you fall to the ground, that's it. You're dead. You're going to be a blow to your head. Or just trampled underfoot. Trampled underfoot. And of course, the more bodies are trampled underfoot, the more they rise, the more slippery the ground becomes because blood is starting to spill out and moisten the dust that is everywhere.

And you have exhaustion as well because the sun is rising higher and higher in the sky. You've got the dust blowing in. And the estimate is that men can't really fight in this way for more than 15 minutes at a stretch. So the lines, you want to think of it, the lines are kind of engaging, then withdrawing, engaging, then withdrawing.

And you have exhaustion as well because the sun is rising higher and higher in the sky. You've got the dust blowing in. And the estimate is that men can't really fight in this way for more than 15 minutes at a stretch. So the lines, you want to think of it, the lines are kind of engaging, then withdrawing, engaging, then withdrawing.

And you have exhaustion as well because the sun is rising higher and higher in the sky. You've got the dust blowing in. And the estimate is that men can't really fight in this way for more than 15 minutes at a stretch. So the lines, you want to think of it, the lines are kind of engaging, then withdrawing, engaging, then withdrawing.

kind of almost the rhythm of a really brutal sporting encounter, I guess. Yeah. You know, very intense moments of engagement and then the players withdraw and kind of draw their breath and then back in again and just physically relentless and demanding. Yeah.

kind of almost the rhythm of a really brutal sporting encounter, I guess. Yeah. You know, very intense moments of engagement and then the players withdraw and kind of draw their breath and then back in again and just physically relentless and demanding. Yeah.

kind of almost the rhythm of a really brutal sporting encounter, I guess. Yeah. You know, very intense moments of engagement and then the players withdraw and kind of draw their breath and then back in again and just physically relentless and demanding. Yeah.