swords
New member
From what I read it seems clear that there were mainly four factors that prevented Hannibal from taking Rome: Firstly, he lost a lot of men and including elephants over the Alps, and he only had his calvary, which, although he used brilliantly in such battles like Cannae, it is doubtful if Rome could be conquered with the limited supply he had. This is where siege ladders and catapults come in handy(though I don't know if Carthage had catapults, oh well), but Carthage was unable to supply him since Rome controlled the naval passage at the time.
He wanted to disrupt the alliances between Rome and it's allies, but failed in his attempts(the uprisings in Gaul almost succeeded, but where defeated at Telamon, which is in Italy). Roman colonies that were hearing of Hannibal's thrust into Italy were also hoping to forge rebellions but were quickly put into check by Rome.
And Cornelius Scipio was a General to be reckoned with, who was always one step ahead of Hannibal. And add to the fact that Hannibal was not able to join with his brother who's head was decapitated in Spain and thrown into Hannibal's camp to add insult to injury. I think I may have more than four here, but what do you think was the greatest factor that prevented Hannibal?
Or do you think it's a combination of it all?
I personally think if Hannibal was given the equipment he needed, it would have been an easy task for him(conquering Rome that is).
He wanted to disrupt the alliances between Rome and it's allies, but failed in his attempts(the uprisings in Gaul almost succeeded, but where defeated at Telamon, which is in Italy). Roman colonies that were hearing of Hannibal's thrust into Italy were also hoping to forge rebellions but were quickly put into check by Rome.
And Cornelius Scipio was a General to be reckoned with, who was always one step ahead of Hannibal. And add to the fact that Hannibal was not able to join with his brother who's head was decapitated in Spain and thrown into Hannibal's camp to add insult to injury. I think I may have more than four here, but what do you think was the greatest factor that prevented Hannibal?
Or do you think it's a combination of it all?
I personally think if Hannibal was given the equipment he needed, it would have been an easy task for him(conquering Rome that is).