Slide 1
Roman Modification,
Hannibal, and the Punic
Wars

Major Carlos Rascon
Slide 2
Learning Objectives
Know and explain the organization of the
Roman Army, with emphasis on the legionary
system
 Know and explain the First Punic War with
emphasis on the campaign against King
Pyrrhus
 Know and Explain the Second Punic War to
include the battles of Trebia, Lake
Trasimene, and Cannae

Slide 3
Learning Objectives Cont.
Evaluate Hannibal as a Captain
 Know and explain Hannibal’s failure to gain
strategic victory despite tactical success
 Know and explain the Battle of Zama and
Scipio’s impact on the outcome

Slide 4
References and Texts
1. Dupuy and Dupuy, The Encyclopedia of
Military History
 2. Jones, The Art of War in the Western
World, pp.26-45, 65-72
 Montross, War Through the Ages, pp. 43-69
 Preston and Wise, Men in Arms, pp. 32-39

Slide 5
Roman Military
Slide 6
Roman Military Organization
Chain of Command
Centurian-Controlled 100 men
 2 Centuries-Maniple
 Cohort-Maniple from each of 3 lines
 Legion- 10 Cohorts
 Corps- 2 Legions
 Consular Army- 2 Corps

Slide 7
Military Organization and
Legionary System
Legionary Composition- A citizens Army
 Three lines
 First two: 20 maniples spaces in a
checkerboard fashion. Carried 7ft javelins
and a 2ft sword
 Video 1min-(Short Sword)
 Third: 120 and 60 man maniples. Carried a
12ft Spear plus a sword and javelin
 Supported by cavalry, archers, and
skirmishers
Slide 8
Military and Legionary System
Cont.
Highly disciplined
 Harshest discipline ever inflicted on a citizen
Army
 Very well trained
Slide 9
First Punic War
Slide 10
First Punic War Causes
1. Carthage- Mediterainian Sea Power
2. Rome- Land Power with no Navy
3. Warring Factions in Sicilly
 One wanted Roman support
 One wanted Carthaginian support
4. Rome takes the battle to Carthage to avoid
an outside influence so close
Slide 11
First Punic War Causes Cont.
5. Pyhrrus is hired by an Italian city-state
for protection against Romans
 Greek soldier/king
 Brings 20000 infantry and 3000 cavalry
 Defeats Romans in 280 B.C.
 Defeated by Romans in 275 B.C.
 Returns to Greece and is killed
 Quoted- “What a fine field of battle I
leave here for Rome and Carthage”
Slide 12
Romans build a Navy
Utilized a Carthaginian ship that had washed
ashore as a model
Weaknesses Not a good handling vessel
 Tough to maneuver in close boat combat
Strength Utilized the Corvus-huge hook used to
grapple an enemy boat

Slide 13
First Punic War
1. Romans win decissive victories at
 Mylae, 260 B.C.
 Cape Encomus 256 B.C.
 Romans go ashore and set down surrender
terms
Slide 14
First Punic War Cont.
1.Carthaginians react by hiring Xanthippus
 Xanthippus is a Spartan warrior
 Defeats Romans in Africa
2. Carthaginian Fleet is destroyed in 241 B.C.
during the Battle of Aegusa
3. Rome wins the First Punic War
Slide 15
Hannibal
Took control of Spain in 221 B.C.
 Good field commander (could win battles)
 Bad tactician
 One officer told him, “You know how to win
victories, but not how to use them.”
Slide 16
Second Punic War Causes
1. Roman intersest in Spain
2. Recouperate losses from the First Punic
War
3. Hannibal’s leadership
Slide 17
Second Punic War
1. Hannibal takes the intitiative
 Told Saguntum (only Roman city in Spain) to
surrender
 Upon refusal, he took it
 Knew Romans would respond
 Advanced from Spain into Northern Italy
Slide 18
Second Punic War
Slide 19
Trebbia
Slide 20
Trebbia- December 218 B.C.
Romans crossed river-extremely cold
 Hannibal attacked
 Mago (Hannibal’s brother) attacks upstream
 Only 10,000 of 40,000 Romans escape
 5,000 Carthaginian casualties
 Hannibal wins

Slide 21
Lake Trasimene
Slide 22
Lake Trasimene 217 B.C.
Hannibal moves south to sever Roman’s
lines of communications back to Rome
 Romans use a quick attack
-sacrafice security for speed
 Hannibal sets up an ambush
-Heavy infantry halts Roman advance
-seals the rear with cavalry

Slide 23
Lake Trasimene Cont.
-Attack causes panic
-only 10,000 of 30,000 Romans escape
 Hannibal wins again
Slide 24
Second Punic War Cont.
Fabius Cunctator takes power in Rome
217 B.C.
 Takes a delayed approach against Hannibal
 Wants to rebuild the Army
Hannibal takes advantage of the situation
 Continues to destroy the countryside
 Romans turn on Fabius
Slide 25
Cannae 216 B.C.
Hannibal still on the march
Romans attempt to siege Carthaginian camp
 11,000 men sent
 Planned a war of attrition
 Hannibal halts the Roman phalanx and
slaughters them
 70,000 Roman casualties- 6,000
Carthaginian

Slide 26
Zama
Slide 27
Zama 202 B.C.
Scipio is leader of the Roman Army
 Had good success in Spain while Hannibal
was on his conquest through Italy
 Attacks Carthage in Africa
Hannibal is recalled to defend Carthage
 Hannibal’s Army is weakened
 40,000 Carthaginians vs 40,000 Romans
Slide 28
Zama Cont.
Scipio uses the Cohort (more
maneuverable than the Legion)
 Transitioned from defense to offense
and defeated Hannibal
 20,000 Carthaginians dead and 15,000
captured
 5,500 Roman casualties
 Hannibal escapes
 Hannibal is defeated!
 Second Punic War ends

Slide 29
Questions