Hello, and welcome to the history of Rome, episode 23e, The War with Hannibal.

Though neither side was aware of it, the long war between Roman Carthage was marching

inexorably towards a final conclusion.

For the Romans, the scourge of Hannibal seemed a virus they would never be able to purge

from their body.

Not strong enough to conquer the Romans, yet too strong to just be driven off, Hannibal

had wrecked havoc in Italy for a decade, and there was no indication he would ever leave.

The Fabian's strategy of countering Hannibal's political moves without risking open battle

was by now firmly entrenched.

Even those commanders who broke from this tradition found themselves chasing after a ghost.

Hannibal would never fight a battle, not of his own devising, and stayed forever one step

ahead of Roman pursuit.

Hannibal himself knew that things could not go on like this forever.

The Carthaginian senate was growing weary of the war, supplies and reinforcements were

produced in ever shrinking amounts after ever more cajoling.

If things kept going in this direction, Hannibal would find himself isolated in an enemy

territory abandoned by his country.

It was fast turning into a replay of his father's war in Sicily.

Hannibal could see the riding on the wall.

He did not have the money or manpower to launch a decisive offensive, even if the shell-shocked

Romans still went to bed and fear of the Carthaginian army pouring through the gates while

they slept.

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