08a: Introduction

The turning point in the history of the Roman Republic was their second war against the Carthaginian Empire. This so-called "Second Punic War," or even "Hannibalic War," lasted from 218 to 201 BC. Rome entered this war as just one of several Mediterranean powers, but emerged from it as the superpower in the Mediterranean. There was a great deal of suffering, bloodshed, and excruciating uncertainty in between, which can be summed up in the phrase "Hannibal ad portas," meaning "Hannibal is at the door!" For centuries, Roman parents said this to scare their little children, But there was a time when all Rome shook at the mention of Hannibal. Rome spent years on the ropes. In outlasting Hannibal, and then defeating him, Rome embarked upon its true destiny. Warning: this lecture has oodles of history content.

In segment 08b: Evil Empires, we learn why Carthage became the Romans' greatest example of an "evil empire." Every superpower has an especially hated enemy it can use to rile its people up to superhuman efforts. For the Romans, the Carthaginians certainly earned their evil empire status. Even so, the Romans and Carthaginians had actually experienced two and a half centuries of peaceful and profitable relations before they came to blows over the strategic island of Sicily in 264 BC. The Romans won the first go-around, but only after they created their very first navy and invented a brilliant new naval technology. Even so, the Carthaginians just got knocked down. They would get up again.

Segment 08c: Hannibal Ad Portas! describes the great gut-check of Roman history called the Second Punic War. Both the Romans and the Carthaginians knew there would be a second round. After years of tense waiting, Hannibal utterly shocked the Romans by coming in over the Alps to invade Italy in 218 BC. At the battle of Cannae in 216 BC, two Roman consular armies were torn to shreds, and Rome discovered there was only one safe thing to do with Hannibal approaching the doors. Run. Yet Hannibal could not muster the men and resources to beat the Romans either.  A bold Roman invasion of Carthage forced Hannibal back to Africa. Close as Rome had come to total defeat, her victory was near total.

We will see in segment 08d: Rome Becomes A Superpower how Rome coped with both the positive and negative consequences of their victory over the Carthaginians. Because Rome was now top dog in the Mediterranean, she was also the number one target of the other powers.  She especially worried the large empires of the East. The Roman senate and people alike wanted to make sure there were no more Hannibals. This, in turn caused Rome to make pre-emptive wars upon Eastern cities and states. which might pose a threat. And even some which posed no significant threat whatsoever.