Dominic Sandbrook

The Carthaginians have been fighting wars for centuries and centuries. It's never been a war of total annihilation. It's always been about forcing your enemy to sue for terms and then you arrive at a kind of compromise and everyone gets on with their lives. It's very Roman to assume that it's all or nothing. And this, I think, ultimately is what Hannibal doesn't understand.

The Carthaginians have been fighting wars for centuries and centuries. It's never been a war of total annihilation. It's always been about forcing your enemy to sue for terms and then you arrive at a kind of compromise and everyone gets on with their lives. It's very Roman to assume that it's all or nothing. And this, I think, ultimately is what Hannibal doesn't understand.

The Carthaginians have been fighting wars for centuries and centuries. It's never been a war of total annihilation. It's always been about forcing your enemy to sue for terms and then you arrive at a kind of compromise and everyone gets on with their lives. It's very Roman to assume that it's all or nothing. And this, I think, ultimately is what Hannibal doesn't understand.

Perhaps he comes to the understanding of it over the course of his time in Italy. But at this point, he still thinks if he can only force the ultimate climactic battle, then he will be able to get the Italians to cast off their loyalty to Rome and to come over to him and the Romans will be forced to sue for terms. And of course, this requires him to tread very delicately on Italian toes.

Perhaps he comes to the understanding of it over the course of his time in Italy. But at this point, he still thinks if he can only force the ultimate climactic battle, then he will be able to get the Italians to cast off their loyalty to Rome and to come over to him and the Romans will be forced to sue for terms. And of course, this requires him to tread very delicately on Italian toes.

Perhaps he comes to the understanding of it over the course of his time in Italy. But at this point, he still thinks if he can only force the ultimate climactic battle, then he will be able to get the Italians to cast off their loyalty to Rome and to come over to him and the Romans will be forced to sue for terms. And of course, this requires him to tread very delicately on Italian toes.

So that's one of the reasons why over the course of the winter, he moves camp so he doesn't outstay his welcome. And it's why in the course of the summer of 218, he moves to a specifically Roman depot, a Roman entrepot full of stores and arms, which is called Cannae.

So that's one of the reasons why over the course of the winter, he moves camp so he doesn't outstay his welcome. And it's why in the course of the summer of 218, he moves to a specifically Roman depot, a Roman entrepot full of stores and arms, which is called Cannae.

So that's one of the reasons why over the course of the winter, he moves camp so he doesn't outstay his welcome. And it's why in the course of the summer of 218, he moves to a specifically Roman depot, a Roman entrepot full of stores and arms, which is called Cannae.

And he captures this town, all the kind of the material, the weapons, the provender, the produce that are stored there are now Hannibal's. It enables him to cut across Roman supply lines. It prompts the local Italians to start wavering in their loyalty to Rome, which is everything that Hannibal wants.

And he captures this town, all the kind of the material, the weapons, the provender, the produce that are stored there are now Hannibal's. It enables him to cut across Roman supply lines. It prompts the local Italians to start wavering in their loyalty to Rome, which is everything that Hannibal wants.

And he captures this town, all the kind of the material, the weapons, the provender, the produce that are stored there are now Hannibal's. It enables him to cut across Roman supply lines. It prompts the local Italians to start wavering in their loyalty to Rome, which is everything that Hannibal wants.

But also there is an additional advantage to it, which is that although Cannae stands on a slight ridge of hills, all around it, the land, and this is quite unusual for Italy, is completely flat. And because it's flat, this makes it perfect for cavalry. Cavalry is in many ways Hannibal's strongest arm and it's the Romans' weakest arm. And so...

But also there is an additional advantage to it, which is that although Cannae stands on a slight ridge of hills, all around it, the land, and this is quite unusual for Italy, is completely flat. And because it's flat, this makes it perfect for cavalry. Cavalry is in many ways Hannibal's strongest arm and it's the Romans' weakest arm. And so...

But also there is an additional advantage to it, which is that although Cannae stands on a slight ridge of hills, all around it, the land, and this is quite unusual for Italy, is completely flat. And because it's flat, this makes it perfect for cavalry. Cavalry is in many ways Hannibal's strongest arm and it's the Romans' weakest arm. And so...

he's hoping, I think, to offer himself and his army as bait. And Can I is the hook.

he's hoping, I think, to offer himself and his army as bait. And Can I is the hook.

he's hoping, I think, to offer himself and his army as bait. And Can I is the hook.

I think, you know, backing himself all the way. But he, you know, also he recognizes it's the only way he has any prospect of winning. I mean, he's right in that. He just has to beat them again and again and again and again.

I think, you know, backing himself all the way. But he, you know, also he recognizes it's the only way he has any prospect of winning. I mean, he's right in that. He just has to beat them again and again and again and again.