Dominic Sandbrook

that this really is the Roman people in arms, joined in a unity, in a kind of sense of determination that is shared by every class of person, by every age group. And I think this matters not just for psychological reasons, but also because there is a slight problem with the sheer scale of the army, which is that it's not at all integrated. I mean, none of these religions have kind of

really served with each other. So Varro and Paulus, they each have their own two legions. Then you've got the four legions that are on the sentry north of Cannae. None of these legions have trained or still less campaigned together. And the consequence of that, of course, is that in a sense, the very size of the army is

really served with each other. So Varro and Paulus, they each have their own two legions. Then you've got the four legions that are on the sentry north of Cannae. None of these legions have trained or still less campaigned together. And the consequence of that, of course, is that in a sense, the very size of the army is

really served with each other. So Varro and Paulus, they each have their own two legions. Then you've got the four legions that are on the sentry north of Cannae. None of these legions have trained or still less campaigned together. And the consequence of that, of course, is that in a sense, the very size of the army is

Becomes a source of potential weakness as well as of strength because it's very ponderous. It's very muscle bound. It doesn't have the ability to do complicated maneuvers or anything like that. It can only do the most basic tactics. And Hannibal knows this. You know, his spies will be out there. He will be computing and working it out.

Becomes a source of potential weakness as well as of strength because it's very ponderous. It's very muscle bound. It doesn't have the ability to do complicated maneuvers or anything like that. It can only do the most basic tactics. And Hannibal knows this. You know, his spies will be out there. He will be computing and working it out.

Becomes a source of potential weakness as well as of strength because it's very ponderous. It's very muscle bound. It doesn't have the ability to do complicated maneuvers or anything like that. It can only do the most basic tactics. And Hannibal knows this. You know, his spies will be out there. He will be computing and working it out.

And I think that that's why you have this incredible scene in late July when at last the two consuls have joined the other four legions north of Cannae and then advancing southwards towards Cannae where Hannibal's army is. And the Carthaginians, like the Spartans at Thermopylae seeing the Persians approach, they see great dust cloud kicking up and then the glint of metal.

And I think that that's why you have this incredible scene in late July when at last the two consuls have joined the other four legions north of Cannae and then advancing southwards towards Cannae where Hannibal's army is. And the Carthaginians, like the Spartans at Thermopylae seeing the Persians approach, they see great dust cloud kicking up and then the glint of metal.

And I think that that's why you have this incredible scene in late July when at last the two consuls have joined the other four legions north of Cannae and then advancing southwards towards Cannae where Hannibal's army is. And the Carthaginians, like the Spartans at Thermopylae seeing the Persians approach, they see great dust cloud kicking up and then the glint of metal.

And this army that is vast beyond their wildest imaginings. And it's not surprising that a lot of the Carthaginians feel quite nervous. And there's an anecdote that's recorded by Plutarch. And there's one of Hannibal's officers, a guy named Gisco, expressed himself astonished by the numbers of the enemy.

And this army that is vast beyond their wildest imaginings. And it's not surprising that a lot of the Carthaginians feel quite nervous. And there's an anecdote that's recorded by Plutarch. And there's one of Hannibal's officers, a guy named Gisco, expressed himself astonished by the numbers of the enemy.

And this army that is vast beyond their wildest imaginings. And it's not surprising that a lot of the Carthaginians feel quite nervous. And there's an anecdote that's recorded by Plutarch. And there's one of Hannibal's officers, a guy named Gisco, expressed himself astonished by the numbers of the enemy.

Hannibal adopted a serious expression and said, "'Yes, Gisco, but you are overlooking an even more astonishing fact.' "'And what is that?' asked Gisco. "'Why?' answered Hannibal. "'That in all that vast Roman army there is no one called Gisco.

Hannibal adopted a serious expression and said, "'Yes, Gisco, but you are overlooking an even more astonishing fact.' "'And what is that?' asked Gisco. "'Why?' answered Hannibal. "'That in all that vast Roman army there is no one called Gisco.

Hannibal adopted a serious expression and said, "'Yes, Gisco, but you are overlooking an even more astonishing fact.' "'And what is that?' asked Gisco. "'Why?' answered Hannibal. "'That in all that vast Roman army there is no one called Gisco.

He's saying, okay, they have all these numbers, but they don't have anyone, you know, they don't have people of your caliber, Gisco. I am surrounded by people like you. We have the winning of this.

He's saying, okay, they have all these numbers, but they don't have anyone, you know, they don't have people of your caliber, Gisco. I am surrounded by people like you. We have the winning of this.

He's saying, okay, they have all these numbers, but they don't have anyone, you know, they don't have people of your caliber, Gisco. I am surrounded by people like you. We have the winning of this.

And I think that that anecdote kind of sums up what seems to have been the mood probably on both sides, which is a kind of a mixture of nervousness and confidence of kind of hesitancy, but also a kind of relish for the big showdown, The World Cup final that is approaching. Everyone knows this is the big one. And I think that probably explains why battle isn't joined immediately.