Publius Corneius Scipio Africanus | The Death of Carthage

My New Book, You Won’t Even Have My Bones, The Story of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, Has Been Published.

July 4, 2024 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

My New Book, You Won’t Even Have My Bones: The Story of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus has been published. Although not frequently acknowledged as such, Scipio Africanus was one of the most pivotal characters in western history. If not for his accomplishments in conquering Spain and depriving Carthage of its wealthy province, and then going […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome Tagged With: Battle of Cannae, Battle of Ticinus, Battle of Zama, Battles of the Upper Baetis, Hannibal, Liternum, Publius Corneius Scipio Africanus, Second Punic War

Did Hannibal and Scipio Ever Meet?

May 28, 2024 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

According to Livy, Scipio and Hannibal met to negotiate just before the battle of Zama. Hannibal had sent spies to the Roman camp, and they were caught snooping around. Much to the shock of his underlings, Scipio told his tribune to release them and show them around the camp and answer any questions to their […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Alexander the Great, Antiochus III, Battle of Zama, Hannibal, Publius Corneius Scipio Africanus, Pyrrhus of Epirus

How Did Hannibal Lose the Second Punic War When He Was a Military Genius.

May 25, 2024 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

When the Second Punic War began, the Romans did not have any generals who were remotely Hannibal’s equal in battlefield tactics. Hannibal demolished the Roman army at the Battles of Ticinus, Trebia, and Trasimene. Then the Romans elected Quintus Fabius Maximus dictator and he promoted a novel idea: Let’s not fight Hannibal on his terms […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Battle of Baecula, Battle of Cannae, Battle of Dertosa, Battle of Ilipa., Battle of Zama, Hannibal Barca, Hasdrubal Barca the brother of Hannibal, Mago Barca the Brother of Hannibal, Publius Corneius Scipio Africanus, Quintus Fabius Maximus Cuncator

Quora Question: What Did Scipio do in Response to Hannibal’s Invasion of Italy

May 24, 2024 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

When Hannibal invaded Italy Scipio was only seventeen, so he served in the legions, first under his father, Publius Cornelius Scipio the elder, who was Consul at the time. At the Battle of Ticinus he was in charge of a turma, a group of 30 cavalry, and he led the charge of the turma […]

Filed Under: Carthage Tagged With: Battle of Cannae, Battle of Ticinus, Hannibal, Hasdrubal Son of Gisco, Lucius Aemilius Paullus, Mago Barca, Publius Corneius Scipio Africanus, Quintis Fabius Maximus Cunctator, Syphax

Why Did Rome Win the Second Punic War

June 9, 2021 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

There were several reasons. After the Battle of Cannae in which some 55,000 Romans and allies were killed, the Romans largely stopped confronting Hannibal in set piece battles and the war became one of attrition. The Romans concentrated on gaining back the territories that went over to Hannibal after the Battle of Cannae. They successfully […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Battle of Baecula, Battle of Cannae, Battle of Ilipa., Battle of the Metaurus River, Battle of Zama, Battles of the Upper Baetis, Gneius Cornelius Scipio, Hannibal, Hasdrubal brother of Hannibal, Hasdrubal Son of Gisco, Mago brother of Hannibal, Publius Corneius Scipio Africanus, Publius Cornelius Scipio the Elder

Quora Question: What Year Was the Rise of Rome?

December 15, 2019 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

Rome didn’t rise in a day, nor in a year. The rise of Rome was a very long process. The Greek historian Polybius explored the rise of Rome in his Histories. In the preface he wrote: “For who is so indolent and so worthless as to not wish to know by what means and under […]