Battle of Zama

The Battle of Zama

Rome’s Greatest General

Versus

Rome’s Greatest Enemy

Marco Cugia

4/29/2010

It is 218 B.C. and the second Punic War is about to break out against two of the biggest powerhouses in the Mediterranean, Rome and Carthage. This war will determine the fate of two empires and two men, both of whom will become legendary figures. Publius Cornelius Scipio and Hannibal Barca are forever intertwined; two military geniuses, two great empires and the fate of the western world were decided on the field of Zama.

Hannibal Barca was born into a noble, wealthy family steeped in military tradition. His father, Hamilcar, had been a general in the first Punic War, which Carthage lost to Rome. Hannibal grew up in Spain where his father was campaigning, and learned about war from the experienced mercenary leaders and generals in his father’s force. Hamilcar was in Spain as part of a plan for the recovery of Carthage. The plan, which Hannibal inherited after his father’s death, was to start by controlling Spain. In doing this Hannibal could build up trade, pay off the heavy Roman indemnity, and set up a staging area for an invasion of Italy.Hannibal’s background included an intense hatred of Carthage instilled in him as a young boy. Before they left for Spain Hamilcar “took [Hannibal] by the hand, led him up to the altar and commanded him to lay his hand upon the victim and swear that he would never be a friend to the Romans.” Hannibal was able to secure unwavering loyalty from his men because he shared the hardships of campaigns with them. Hannibal growing up, fighting with, and eventually leading these men had created an incredible bond between the men and their leader. When war broke out in 218, Hannibal had a plan, to bring the war to Italy and Rome’s doorstep. Hannibal scored a string of victories at Ticinus, Trebia, Trasimene, and Cannae, leaving 80,000 to 100,000 Romans killed or captured; which destroyed nearly a third of Rome’s military force....