Welcome to a history of Europe Key Battles, the Battle of Zama 202 BC, Part 2 of 2.

At the end of last week's podcast, Hannibal was wreaking havoc in the Italian Peninsula,

which encouraged several revolts against Roman rule in its territories.

Most states in this position would try and negotiate peace, but because of the

nature of the Romans, and thanks to the continued support of her allies, Rome did nothing of the sort.

Hannibal's offers to talks were rebuffed, and instead more recruits were brought into the army,

and sent to deal with each situation.

In Sardinia they got a stroke of luck when a Carthaginian naval force sent to the island

ran into a violent storm.

The ships had to be repaired and by the time they got to Sardinia, the women had been

alerted and reinforced the island with the Second Legion, quickly suppressing the revolt.

In Sicily, the Romans made a surprise attack on Syracuse, while the city was celebrating a religious festival.

They scaled the outer walls under cover of darkness to open the city gates, allowing the Romans to swarm in a massacre the population, including the

famous scientist Archimedes. The Carthaginians did make genuine efforts to recover Sicily,

bringing in 40,000 men over the next three years, but all in vain due to poor military leadership.

At the same time, Rome thought a scrappy and exhausting

campaign against Macedonia. But Philip of Macedonia's resources were diverted by hostile attacks

from his east, and so he was not able to deliver a knockout punch and remove Rome from Illyria.

Meanwhile, in Italy, Hannibal unable to persuade the north to revolt, travelled to the south of the peninsula, to the recently subjugated Greeks and

Samnites. On his way he was shadowed by Roman legions, hurried but not directly confronted.

He made his winter quarters in Capua,

but after a long siege, the city was taken by the Romans in 2.11 BC, and severely punished,

...