The Second Punic War The Roman Empire was expanding its territory in the 200s BC. Their biggest enemy at the time was the kingdom of Carthage in Iberia (Spain and Portugal) and northern Africa. Rome had already fought against Carthage, notably in the First Punic War a couple of decades prior. Rome had won that war and gained the island of Sicily as a result. The war began in 219 BC when Carthage destroyed the Roman town of Saguntum in Iberia. The beginning of the war favored the Carthaginians. The Carthaginian army, led by Hannibal, marched through central Gaul (France) and crossed the Alps to get past the Roman defenders and enter Italy. The Gallic tribes had long been enemies of Rome, so they joined Hannibal's army, which increased to about 60,000 men. In Italy, Hannibal won decisive victories at Taurini and the Trebia River. After quartering his troops for the winter, Hannibal cut off the Roman army, led by Gaius Flaminius, from Rome. This invoke a hasty pursuit, and Hannibal ...
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