Hello, and welcome to the history of Rome.

After the utter devastation of Canny, no one would have blamed the Romans had they just

given up.

The history of the world could have very easily read something like, but after the defeated

Canny, the Romans surrendered.

They had been beaten soundly over and over again by Hannibal, and on their own turf no less.

The Romans agreed to terms, and their just recently acquired empire was shattered.

Next week, on the history of Carthage, we'll talk about Hannibal's falling out with

Philip and the war in the east.

But despite the obvious rationales for quitting the fight, Rome's determination to carry on

was only bolstered by their defeats.

The old Roman obstinacy was back with a vengeance.

That special blend of honor, pride, and masochism that had seen the Romans through so

much would see them through this, their darkest hour as well.

That is not to say the Romans proceeded through their trial and changed.

On the contrary, the early years of the Second Punic War fundamentally altered life and

Rome.

It was simultaneously and paradoxically a time of both democratization and consolidation

of power in the hands of the elites.

Other agitation and rival political factions had sent out field commanders with diametrically

opposed aims, and the confused Roman strategies had been easily exploited by Hannibal.

The case of Fabius and Manucius pre-saged the much greater catastrophe that befell Vero

...