Tom Holland

Then six months or so later, the summer of 217, he had ambushed an entire Roman army near Lake Trasimene. That's seen in the defile when all his men are up on the heights and they come pouring down. And they'd killed the consul who was a commander, the Pete Hegseth of the Roman Republic, if you remember. Yes.

Then six months or so later, the summer of 217, he had ambushed an entire Roman army near Lake Trasimene. That's seen in the defile when all his men are up on the heights and they come pouring down. And they'd killed the consul who was a commander, the Pete Hegseth of the Roman Republic, if you remember. Yes.

He's been roaming around southern Italy, around Campania, the Roman breadbasket, torching the estates of the Roman nobility. Since then, he has been on the eastern flank of Rome in Apulia. It's basically R&R for his men. They've been recharging their batteries, haven't they? So at this point, Tom... What does Hannibal want to do? What's his plan? To take the city of Rome?

He's been roaming around southern Italy, around Campania, the Roman breadbasket, torching the estates of the Roman nobility. Since then, he has been on the eastern flank of Rome in Apulia. It's basically R&R for his men. They've been recharging their batteries, haven't they? So at this point, Tom... What does Hannibal want to do? What's his plan? To take the city of Rome?

He's been roaming around southern Italy, around Campania, the Roman breadbasket, torching the estates of the Roman nobility. Since then, he has been on the eastern flank of Rome in Apulia. It's basically R&R for his men. They've been recharging their batteries, haven't they? So at this point, Tom... What does Hannibal want to do? What's his plan? To take the city of Rome?

To destroy the Roman Republic? No, that's too ambitious for him. So what does he think he's going to plausibly do?

To destroy the Roman Republic? No, that's too ambitious for him. So what does he think he's going to plausibly do?

To destroy the Roman Republic? No, that's too ambitious for him. So what does he think he's going to plausibly do?

So he wants to lure them into another battle, another pitch battle, because basically he thinks he's unbeatable in pitch battles, do you think? I think he's backing himself.

So he wants to lure them into another battle, another pitch battle, because basically he thinks he's unbeatable in pitch battles, do you think? I think he's backing himself.

So he wants to lure them into another battle, another pitch battle, because basically he thinks he's unbeatable in pitch battles, do you think? I think he's backing himself.

All right. So what about the Romans? Are they going to take this trap? Because if you remember from last time, Fabius Maximus, who had been serving as dictator, he'd been appointed for six months as sort of supreme magistrate, the man who makes the decisions in command of the republic. He has been actually shying away from battle.

All right. So what about the Romans? Are they going to take this trap? Because if you remember from last time, Fabius Maximus, who had been serving as dictator, he'd been appointed for six months as sort of supreme magistrate, the man who makes the decisions in command of the republic. He has been actually shying away from battle.

All right. So what about the Romans? Are they going to take this trap? Because if you remember from last time, Fabius Maximus, who had been serving as dictator, he'd been appointed for six months as sort of supreme magistrate, the man who makes the decisions in command of the republic. He has been actually shying away from battle.

I mean, his whole strategy has been wait and see, play the long game. Delaying. The Fabian strategy, right. You said last time that a lot of the Romans don't like this. They think it's un-Roman. They're losing patience. So have they now definitively run out of patience by the time Hannibal sets up his base at Cannae?

I mean, his whole strategy has been wait and see, play the long game. Delaying. The Fabian strategy, right. You said last time that a lot of the Romans don't like this. They think it's un-Roman. They're losing patience. So have they now definitively run out of patience by the time Hannibal sets up his base at Cannae?

I mean, his whole strategy has been wait and see, play the long game. Delaying. The Fabian strategy, right. You said last time that a lot of the Romans don't like this. They think it's un-Roman. They're losing patience. So have they now definitively run out of patience by the time Hannibal sets up his base at Cannae?

Let's do this. And they've had a long time to think about it. I mean, months and months have passed. They've had a long time to think about, OK, here is this guy with all his cavalry and whatnot, the Africans, the Gauls and stuff. How are we actually going to beat him? And Tom, have they dreamed up a new effective strategy?

Let's do this. And they've had a long time to think about it. I mean, months and months have passed. They've had a long time to think about, OK, here is this guy with all his cavalry and whatnot, the Africans, the Gauls and stuff. How are we actually going to beat him? And Tom, have they dreamed up a new effective strategy?

Let's do this. And they've had a long time to think about it. I mean, months and months have passed. They've had a long time to think about, OK, here is this guy with all his cavalry and whatnot, the Africans, the Gauls and stuff. How are we actually going to beat him? And Tom, have they dreamed up a new effective strategy?