1 00:00:00,210 --> 00:00:03,209 - [Narrator] This video was made possible by NordVPN. 2 00:00:03,209 --> 00:00:04,650 Click the link in the description 3 00:00:04,650 --> 00:00:06,180 to get an exclusive deal 4 00:00:06,179 --> 00:00:08,099 with four extra months. 5 00:00:08,099 --> 00:00:11,009 Head over to the merch store to pick up some character pins, 6 00:00:11,009 --> 00:00:12,990 calendars, and more. 7 00:00:12,990 --> 00:00:16,410 Also ever needed to enact vengeance on your enemies, 8 00:00:16,410 --> 00:00:18,539 but always felt too shy? 9 00:00:18,539 --> 00:00:21,960 Well, fear not Little Hannibal is here. 10 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:23,609 Support our channel by heading over 11 00:00:23,609 --> 00:00:26,189 to www.oversimplified.youtooz.com 12 00:00:26,190 --> 00:00:29,700 and buying your very own pocket-sized piece of vengeance. 13 00:00:29,699 --> 00:00:33,149 Our exclusive Hannibal figure is in limited supply, 14 00:00:33,149 --> 00:00:34,472 so get it quick. 15 00:00:35,609 --> 00:00:38,359 (dramatic music) 16 00:00:40,996 --> 00:00:43,829 (swords clanging) 17 00:00:49,256 --> 00:00:50,898 (soldiers screaming) 18 00:00:50,898 --> 00:00:53,164 (swords clanging) 19 00:00:53,164 --> 00:00:56,746 (dramatic music continues) 20 00:00:58,582 --> 00:01:02,100 (soldiers screaming) (swords clanging) 21 00:01:02,100 --> 00:01:05,683 (dramatic music continues) 22 00:01:18,441 --> 00:01:21,358 (Romans screaming) 23 00:01:22,662 --> 00:01:25,439 (ominous music) 24 00:01:25,439 --> 00:01:27,932 How do you solve a problem like Hannibal? 25 00:01:29,650 --> 00:01:32,039 (Romans screaming) 26 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:33,900 In a crisis such as this, 27 00:01:33,900 --> 00:01:36,330 the Romans often turned to religion. 28 00:01:36,329 --> 00:01:37,409 - [Roman 1] What's going on? 29 00:01:37,409 --> 00:01:38,879 Are the gods mad at us? 30 00:01:38,879 --> 00:01:40,679 The Gods must be mad at us. 31 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:41,598 - [Roman 2] But why? 32 00:01:41,597 --> 00:01:42,900 - [Roman 3] I know why. 33 00:01:42,900 --> 00:01:45,600 Two of the Vestal Virgins broke their sacred oath 34 00:01:45,599 --> 00:01:47,309 and lost their virginity! 35 00:01:47,310 --> 00:01:49,650 That's why Hannibal's kicking our ass! 36 00:01:49,650 --> 00:01:50,937 - [Roman 2] What should we do with them? 37 00:01:50,936 --> 00:01:54,516 - [Roman 4] Appease the gods, bury them alive. 38 00:01:54,516 --> 00:01:57,000 (Romans cheering) 39 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:58,260 - [Roman 1] Who did they even boink? 40 00:01:58,260 --> 00:02:00,090 - [Roman 2] It was those guys. 41 00:02:00,090 --> 00:02:00,923 - [Roman 5] Huh? 42 00:02:00,923 --> 00:02:01,756 - [Roman 1] What should we do with them? 43 00:02:01,756 --> 00:02:02,588 - [Roman 3] Beat them to death! 44 00:02:04,548 --> 00:02:05,939 (Romans cheering) (blows thudding) 45 00:02:05,939 --> 00:02:09,362 - [Narrator] Needless to say, the Romans were freaking out. 46 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:14,340 - [Roman 1] Okay, now that that's out of our system, 47 00:02:14,340 --> 00:02:15,629 let's go find a real solution. 48 00:02:15,629 --> 00:02:16,650 - [Narrator] The real solution, 49 00:02:16,650 --> 00:02:19,319 first of all, involved raising a new army. 50 00:02:19,319 --> 00:02:21,090 Remember, at Cannae, 51 00:02:21,090 --> 00:02:23,759 Hannibal had wiped out the biggest army Rome 52 00:02:23,759 --> 00:02:28,759 had ever fielded, possibly 20% of Rome's military-aged men. 53 00:02:28,770 --> 00:02:32,130 Rome needed to replace those losses and fast 54 00:02:32,129 --> 00:02:35,069 before Hannibal arrived at their gates. 55 00:02:35,069 --> 00:02:37,349 But where would those replacements come from? 56 00:02:37,349 --> 00:02:39,989 Rome had a few ideas. 57 00:02:39,990 --> 00:02:42,510 - [Roman 1] Quick, lower the age of conscription! 58 00:02:42,509 --> 00:02:43,342 You! 59 00:02:43,342 --> 00:02:44,729 Put down those Digimons. 60 00:02:44,729 --> 00:02:46,469 You're a soldier now. 61 00:02:46,469 --> 00:02:49,109 Enlist all these slaves with the promise of freedom! 62 00:02:49,109 --> 00:02:50,250 (slave cheers) 63 00:02:50,250 --> 00:02:52,740 And equip them with all these religious weapons and armor. 64 00:02:52,740 --> 00:02:54,420 Anything we've got! 65 00:02:54,419 --> 00:02:58,739 All right, men, you are Rome's last line of defense. 66 00:02:58,740 --> 00:03:00,075 Man the walls! 67 00:03:00,074 --> 00:03:02,370 (children cheering) 68 00:03:02,371 --> 00:03:05,038 (ominous music) 69 00:03:07,349 --> 00:03:09,750 - [Narrator] After the earth-shattering defeat at Cannae, 70 00:03:09,750 --> 00:03:11,759 the Romans expected Hannibal to arrive 71 00:03:11,759 --> 00:03:13,889 at their gates any day now. 72 00:03:13,889 --> 00:03:17,309 In Hannibal's camp, the mood was triumphant. 73 00:03:17,310 --> 00:03:19,050 - [Soldier 1] We did it. We won. 74 00:03:19,050 --> 00:03:20,460 So when do we march on Rome? 75 00:03:20,460 --> 00:03:21,293 Today? 76 00:03:21,293 --> 00:03:22,260 - [Soldier 2] I'm free in 10 minutes. 77 00:03:22,259 --> 00:03:23,849 - [Hannibal] Whoa. Whoa. Slow down. 78 00:03:23,849 --> 00:03:24,935 We're not going to Rome. 79 00:03:24,935 --> 00:03:26,099 (soldiers gasping) 80 00:03:26,099 --> 00:03:27,449 We're staying right here. 81 00:03:27,449 --> 00:03:29,129 - [Soldier 1] Are you an idiot, Hannibal? 82 00:03:29,129 --> 00:03:30,719 - [Hannibal] No, I'm smart. 83 00:03:30,719 --> 00:03:32,669 We don't need to march on Rome 84 00:03:32,669 --> 00:03:34,409 because, after what we did, 85 00:03:34,409 --> 00:03:37,620 the Romans are definitely going to surrender. 86 00:03:37,620 --> 00:03:38,520 Watch. 87 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:39,390 Hey, Jimbob? 88 00:03:39,389 --> 00:03:40,222 - [Jimbob] Yes, sir? 89 00:03:40,223 --> 00:03:41,760 - [Hannibal] Go to Rome and discuss peace terms. 90 00:03:41,759 --> 00:03:42,989 - [Jimbob] Yes, sir. 91 00:03:42,990 --> 00:03:45,480 Hey, I'm here to discuss peace terms terms. 92 00:03:45,479 --> 00:03:46,587 - [Fabius Maximus] Piss off! 93 00:03:46,587 --> 00:03:49,768 - [Jimbob] They told me to piss off! 94 00:03:49,768 --> 00:03:52,469 - [Hannibal] What? They didn't surrender? 95 00:03:52,469 --> 00:03:55,020 - [Jimbob] No, and they were mean! 96 00:03:57,870 --> 00:03:59,099 - [Narrator] Hannibal was learning 97 00:03:59,099 --> 00:04:03,150 that Rome had an unprecedented attitude towards surrender. 98 00:04:03,150 --> 00:04:05,460 Even when Hannibal offered to ransom thousands 99 00:04:05,460 --> 00:04:07,080 of prisoners back to Rome, 100 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,450 a pretty common practice in ancient warfare, 101 00:04:09,449 --> 00:04:13,019 the Romans refused, opting to let their own men be sold 102 00:04:13,020 --> 00:04:16,769 into slavery rather than paying a penny to the enemy. 103 00:04:16,769 --> 00:04:19,589 It was clear that in order to defeat Rome, 104 00:04:19,589 --> 00:04:21,869 you had to annihilate them. 105 00:04:21,870 --> 00:04:26,459 If any Roman man was still standing, you hadn't yet won. 106 00:04:26,459 --> 00:04:29,819 But still, Hannibal decided not to march on Rome 107 00:04:29,819 --> 00:04:32,279 and it was a controversial decision. 108 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:34,686 Even one of his own commanders famously told him, 109 00:04:34,687 --> 00:04:36,810 "Hannibal, you know how to win a battle, 110 00:04:36,810 --> 00:04:38,810 but you do not know how to win a war." 111 00:04:38,810 --> 00:04:41,159 (soldiers laughing) 112 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:42,570 From Hannibal's perspective, 113 00:04:42,569 --> 00:04:44,250 perhaps he knew his army was designed 114 00:04:44,250 --> 00:04:47,490 to survive behind enemy lines and sow chaos. 115 00:04:47,490 --> 00:04:49,019 It may not have been well equipped 116 00:04:49,019 --> 00:04:50,819 to undertake a risky siege 117 00:04:50,819 --> 00:04:53,459 of one of the most fortified cities on earth. 118 00:04:53,459 --> 00:04:56,219 Plus with many of the southern cities defecting 119 00:04:56,220 --> 00:04:57,870 to his side after Cannae, 120 00:04:57,870 --> 00:05:01,500 Hannibal likely thought things were going pretty well as is. 121 00:05:01,500 --> 00:05:03,300 - [Hannibal] We'll stay the course. 122 00:05:03,300 --> 00:05:05,340 Okay, so the Romans didn't surrender 123 00:05:05,339 --> 00:05:06,959 after three major defeats, 124 00:05:06,959 --> 00:05:10,871 but surely they'll surrender after four. 125 00:05:10,872 --> 00:05:13,530 (soldiers groaning) 126 00:05:13,529 --> 00:05:14,879 - [Narrator] Unfortunately for Hannibal, 127 00:05:14,879 --> 00:05:16,560 however, after Cannae, 128 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,262 the Romans well and truly learned their lesson. 129 00:05:20,189 --> 00:05:22,500 - [Fabius Maximus] Well, would you look at that? 130 00:05:22,500 --> 00:05:24,600 Remind me, who was it that said Hannibal 131 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:26,670 was too dangerous to fight? 132 00:05:26,670 --> 00:05:27,509 - [Senator] You. 133 00:05:27,509 --> 00:05:28,889 - [Fabius Maximus] And who said we shouldn't 134 00:05:28,889 --> 00:05:30,419 fight him directly? 135 00:05:30,420 --> 00:05:31,253 - [Senator] You. 136 00:05:31,252 --> 00:05:34,110 - [Fabius Maximus] And who tried to fight him directly? 137 00:05:34,110 --> 00:05:34,943 - [Senator] Us. 138 00:05:34,942 --> 00:05:36,060 - [Fabius Maximus] And what happened? 139 00:05:36,060 --> 00:05:40,079 - [Senator] We lost 20% of our military-aged men. 140 00:05:40,079 --> 00:05:41,550 - [Fabius Maximus] That's right. 141 00:05:41,550 --> 00:05:44,883 So tell me, when Hannibal approaches, what do we do? 142 00:05:46,199 --> 00:05:47,430 - [Senator] We run away. 143 00:05:47,430 --> 00:05:49,263 - [Fabius Maximus] I'm a genius. 144 00:05:50,100 --> 00:05:50,933 Clap for me! 145 00:05:50,932 --> 00:05:52,439 (senators clapping) 146 00:05:52,439 --> 00:05:54,810 - [Narrator] After Cannae, Fabius Maximus kind of 147 00:05:54,810 --> 00:05:57,240 became the unofficial leader of Rome. 148 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,129 Even if others were elected Consul, 149 00:05:59,129 --> 00:06:01,379 his influence was unparalleled 150 00:06:01,379 --> 00:06:03,000 and Rome quickly reverted 151 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:06,269 to the Fabian strategy of avoiding Hannibal. 152 00:06:06,269 --> 00:06:08,009 They knew they couldn't defeat him, 153 00:06:08,009 --> 00:06:12,089 so instead they hoped they could at least contain him. 154 00:06:12,089 --> 00:06:14,549 They raised an impressively large number of men, 155 00:06:14,550 --> 00:06:17,670 partly by enlisting teenagers, slaves, and criminals. 156 00:06:17,670 --> 00:06:19,650 And rather than trying to fight Hannibal, 157 00:06:19,649 --> 00:06:21,929 they instead turned their attention towards 158 00:06:21,930 --> 00:06:25,500 those treacherous southern cities that had switched sides. 159 00:06:25,500 --> 00:06:27,509 - [Hannibal] Thanks for joining the winning team, guys. 160 00:06:27,509 --> 00:06:28,439 Here's the deal. 161 00:06:28,439 --> 00:06:31,079 All you have to do is provide me some troops 162 00:06:31,079 --> 00:06:32,430 and defend your own city, 163 00:06:32,430 --> 00:06:35,069 since I'll be too busy to defend it for you. 164 00:06:35,069 --> 00:06:39,120 Now, I'm going to briefly turn around, look this way, 165 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:40,530 and when I look back, 166 00:06:40,529 --> 00:06:42,926 you better not be being massacred by the Rome... 167 00:06:42,927 --> 00:06:44,040 Oh, for goodness sake! 168 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:45,150 - [Narrator] The Romans spread out 169 00:06:45,149 --> 00:06:46,769 their newly-formed legions 170 00:06:46,769 --> 00:06:49,229 and began attacking the southern cities here, 171 00:06:49,230 --> 00:06:50,850 there, everywhere. 172 00:06:50,850 --> 00:06:53,670 The southern cities expected to have Hannibal's protection 173 00:06:53,670 --> 00:06:56,850 and Hannibal was inundated with requests for help. 174 00:06:56,850 --> 00:06:58,890 He was forced to run around southern Italy, 175 00:06:58,889 --> 00:07:00,629 trying to encourage defection, 176 00:07:00,629 --> 00:07:02,550 while rescuing his own allies. 177 00:07:02,550 --> 00:07:05,550 But when he showed up, the Romans would often leave, 178 00:07:05,550 --> 00:07:08,579 only to come back the second he went away again. 179 00:07:08,579 --> 00:07:10,229 And as these southern cities found 180 00:07:10,230 --> 00:07:12,750 themselves being punished severely by the Romans, 181 00:07:12,750 --> 00:07:15,089 they began to realize that joining Hannibal 182 00:07:15,089 --> 00:07:17,489 may not have been such a good idea. 183 00:07:17,490 --> 00:07:18,997 - [Hannibal] Hey, you think you're so big? 184 00:07:18,997 --> 00:07:21,060 Attacking my allies! 185 00:07:21,060 --> 00:07:23,310 Why don't you come out and face me? 186 00:07:23,310 --> 00:07:27,269 - [Roman Soldier] Because you are scary. 187 00:07:27,269 --> 00:07:28,620 - [Narrator] The fickle southern cities 188 00:07:28,620 --> 00:07:30,240 frequently switched sides depending 189 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:31,710 on who appeared to be winning, 190 00:07:31,709 --> 00:07:34,169 and the whole situation became a nightmare 191 00:07:34,170 --> 00:07:35,819 for Hannibal to control, 192 00:07:35,819 --> 00:07:38,339 playing a constant game of Roman whack-a-mole 193 00:07:38,339 --> 00:07:40,979 to fend off the enemy armies. 194 00:07:40,980 --> 00:07:43,800 Having not long ago seemed near extinction, 195 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:46,949 the Romans had managed to turn this situation around 196 00:07:46,949 --> 00:07:50,399 by placing Hannibal in a clever predicament. 197 00:07:50,399 --> 00:07:51,989 If he left Southern Italy, 198 00:07:51,990 --> 00:07:54,960 the southern cities would likely capitulate to Rome, 199 00:07:54,959 --> 00:07:56,729 meaning he couldn't leave. 200 00:07:56,730 --> 00:07:58,710 And since the Romans wouldn't fight him, 201 00:07:58,709 --> 00:08:01,919 he couldn't inflict any more dangerous defeats. 202 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:04,920 For now, Hannibal had been muzzled. 203 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:07,140 Southern Italy had been his prize 204 00:08:07,139 --> 00:08:09,689 for his impressive Italian campaign, 205 00:08:09,689 --> 00:08:11,759 but those clever Romans found a way 206 00:08:11,759 --> 00:08:15,779 to take his prize and turn it into his prison. 207 00:08:15,779 --> 00:08:19,409 With the Fabian strategy neutralizing Hannibal for now, 208 00:08:19,410 --> 00:08:22,800 the Romans were freed up to refocus their attention 209 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:24,692 to other fronts. 210 00:08:26,279 --> 00:08:28,559 This whole time while we've been discussing Hannibal 211 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:31,290 and the Italian campaign of the Second Punic War, 212 00:08:31,290 --> 00:08:34,289 fighting had actually been occurring elsewhere. 213 00:08:34,289 --> 00:08:38,789 For example, in 216 BC, the Romans had sent an army north 214 00:08:38,789 --> 00:08:41,699 to punish the Celtic tribes that had joined Hannibal. 215 00:08:41,700 --> 00:08:45,030 However, as the Romans entered the Litana Forest, 216 00:08:45,029 --> 00:08:49,139 little did they know those clever Celts had set up a trap. 217 00:08:49,139 --> 00:08:52,500 The Celts dropped trees on them, decimating the Romans, 218 00:08:52,500 --> 00:08:54,600 and they even took the commander's head 219 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:57,600 to use as a religious sippy cup. 220 00:08:57,600 --> 00:08:59,399 So that went pretty bad. 221 00:08:59,399 --> 00:09:01,139 Whoa, very bad. 222 00:09:01,139 --> 00:09:03,269 But thankfully in other theaters, 223 00:09:03,269 --> 00:09:05,490 things were going a bit better. 224 00:09:05,490 --> 00:09:08,639 For example, let's look at Sicily. 225 00:09:08,639 --> 00:09:11,699 After Cannae, internal chaos in Syracuse caused 226 00:09:11,700 --> 00:09:14,550 this longtime Roman ally to switch sides, 227 00:09:14,549 --> 00:09:17,370 because being a winner is more fun. 228 00:09:17,370 --> 00:09:19,649 The Carthaginians also landed troops, 229 00:09:19,649 --> 00:09:21,689 hoping to retake their lost island, 230 00:09:21,690 --> 00:09:24,930 while Roman proconsul, Claudius Marcellus, moved in 231 00:09:24,929 --> 00:09:26,879 to besiege Syracuse. 232 00:09:26,879 --> 00:09:30,330 The siege was a brutal slug for the Romans, 233 00:09:30,330 --> 00:09:33,389 largely due to the presence of one famous scientist 234 00:09:33,389 --> 00:09:35,819 and mathematician, Archimedes. 235 00:09:35,820 --> 00:09:37,650 He lived in Syracuse at the time, 236 00:09:37,649 --> 00:09:40,289 and he invented a variety of clever contraptions 237 00:09:40,289 --> 00:09:41,639 to defend the city. 238 00:09:41,639 --> 00:09:43,500 There was a giant claw that could grab 239 00:09:43,500 --> 00:09:45,090 and destroy Roman ships 240 00:09:45,090 --> 00:09:47,040 and purportedly even a big mirror 241 00:09:47,039 --> 00:09:49,469 that could magically ignite them. 242 00:09:49,470 --> 00:09:51,840 The Carthaginian forces on the island attempted 243 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:53,759 to come to Syracuse's rescue, 244 00:09:53,759 --> 00:09:55,169 but luckily for the Romans, 245 00:09:55,169 --> 00:09:58,379 they all got diarrhea and then died. 246 00:09:58,379 --> 00:10:00,480 Finally, in the city itself, 247 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:02,843 the day of a big annual religious festival came 248 00:10:02,842 --> 00:10:04,899 and the Syracusans said... 249 00:10:04,899 --> 00:10:05,879 - [Syracusan General] Well, fellas, 250 00:10:05,879 --> 00:10:08,580 we've been holding off the Romans for over a year now. 251 00:10:08,580 --> 00:10:10,771 I think we've earned ourselves a little party. 252 00:10:10,770 --> 00:10:13,319 (Syracusans cheering) 253 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:15,750 - [Carl] Sir, we're still under a massive siege. 254 00:10:15,750 --> 00:10:16,830 Are you sure? 255 00:10:16,830 --> 00:10:18,568 They'll probably take advantage of it. 256 00:10:18,567 --> 00:10:20,610 - [Syracusan General] Well, Carl, I'm taking advantage 257 00:10:20,610 --> 00:10:21,750 of the open bar. 258 00:10:21,750 --> 00:10:23,376 - [Carl] Sir, they've got battering rams. 259 00:10:23,376 --> 00:10:25,229 - [Syracusan General] Well, Carl, I'm ramming 260 00:10:25,230 --> 00:10:27,450 these hor d'oeuvres into my mouth. 261 00:10:27,450 --> 00:10:29,497 - [Carl] Sir, they'll tear down our walls. 262 00:10:29,496 --> 00:10:32,069 - [Syracusan General] Well, Carl, I'm tearing it up 263 00:10:32,070 --> 00:10:33,240 on the dance floor. 264 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:35,623 - [Carl] Sir, they're literally at the gates. 265 00:10:35,623 --> 00:10:37,980 - [Syracusan General] Well, Carl, I am literally 266 00:10:37,980 --> 00:10:39,688 at the cheese platter. 267 00:10:39,688 --> 00:10:41,519 (people screaming) 268 00:10:41,519 --> 00:10:42,990 - [Narrator] Marcellus took advantage 269 00:10:42,990 --> 00:10:45,629 of the drunken festivities, stormed the city, 270 00:10:45,629 --> 00:10:47,669 and plundering ensued. 271 00:10:47,669 --> 00:10:50,610 In the chaos, Marcellus ordered Archimedes 272 00:10:50,610 --> 00:10:52,139 be captured alive. 273 00:10:52,139 --> 00:10:55,620 Some sources say Roman troops entered Archimedes' home 274 00:10:55,620 --> 00:10:56,519 and they were like... 275 00:10:56,519 --> 00:10:57,870 - [Roman Soldier] Hey, man, are you the math guy? 276 00:10:57,870 --> 00:10:59,460 - [Archimedes] Go away. I'm drawing circles. 277 00:10:59,460 --> 00:11:00,389 - [Roman Soldier] Look, I just need to know 278 00:11:00,389 --> 00:11:01,222 if you're the nerd. 279 00:11:01,222 --> 00:11:02,055 - [Archimedes] Come on, bro. 280 00:11:02,056 --> 00:11:03,389 Get outta here. You're messing up my circles. 281 00:11:03,389 --> 00:11:04,949 - [Roman Soldier] Now is not a good time to draw circles. 282 00:11:04,950 --> 00:11:06,330 - [Archimedes] It's always a good time for circles. 283 00:11:06,330 --> 00:11:07,560 I love circles. 284 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:08,729 - [Roman Soldier] Either stop drawing the circles 285 00:11:08,730 --> 00:11:09,600 or I kill you. 286 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:10,432 - [Archimedes] I choose the circles. 287 00:11:10,432 --> 00:11:11,342 (Archimedes screams) 288 00:11:11,342 --> 00:11:12,990 (bell tolls) 289 00:11:12,990 --> 00:11:14,850 - [Narrator] Despite not securing Archimedes, 290 00:11:14,850 --> 00:11:18,330 by 210 BC, the Romans did secure Sicily 291 00:11:18,330 --> 00:11:20,730 and also put down a Carthage-supported rebellion 292 00:11:20,730 --> 00:11:22,409 on nearby Sardinia. 293 00:11:22,409 --> 00:11:24,240 Two Roman successes. 294 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,430 And there were more to come. 295 00:11:26,429 --> 00:11:29,429 After Cannae, King Philip the V of Macedon 296 00:11:29,429 --> 00:11:30,929 saw an opportunity. 297 00:11:30,929 --> 00:11:34,349 He was concerned with recent Roman expansion into Illyria, 298 00:11:34,350 --> 00:11:37,080 and so, when he saw Hannibal annihilating the Romans 299 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:38,445 in Italy, he said... 300 00:11:38,445 --> 00:11:39,432 - [King Philip] Oh my gosh. 301 00:11:39,432 --> 00:11:40,264 Hey! 302 00:11:41,192 --> 00:11:42,360 Hey, Hannibal. 303 00:11:43,889 --> 00:11:45,659 Oh my gosh, you're so cool. 304 00:11:45,659 --> 00:11:46,620 Let's form an alliance 305 00:11:46,620 --> 00:11:48,779 and annihilate the Romans together. 306 00:11:48,779 --> 00:11:50,668 - [Hannibal] Eh, sure. 307 00:11:50,668 --> 00:11:52,797 - [King Philip] Yes. 308 00:11:52,797 --> 00:11:54,262 Yippee! 309 00:11:54,261 --> 00:11:55,349 (dolphin squeaking) 310 00:11:55,350 --> 00:11:57,570 - [Narrator] Hannibal hoped to secure Philip's help 311 00:11:57,570 --> 00:11:58,770 in fighting Rome, 312 00:11:58,769 --> 00:12:00,870 but a Roman army was sent to the region, 313 00:12:00,870 --> 00:12:03,240 stirred up Philip's other Greek opponents, 314 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:05,639 and essentially kept Philip bogged down in Greece 315 00:12:05,639 --> 00:12:07,799 for the entire duration of the war. 316 00:12:07,799 --> 00:12:10,919 Another, kind of, Roman success. 317 00:12:10,919 --> 00:12:12,779 But the main front Rome was hoping 318 00:12:12,779 --> 00:12:15,959 to push Carthage back in was Spain. 319 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:17,820 The riches of Spain made it one 320 00:12:17,820 --> 00:12:20,070 of Carthage's most valuable possessions, 321 00:12:20,070 --> 00:12:22,980 and the Romans were eager to weaken it. 322 00:12:22,980 --> 00:12:25,163 Remember, way back at the start of the war, 323 00:12:25,163 --> 00:12:27,960 the Consul Scipio was supposed to go to Spain, 324 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:29,759 but ended up rushing back to Italy 325 00:12:29,759 --> 00:12:32,700 when he realized Hannibal was crossing the Alps. 326 00:12:32,700 --> 00:12:34,710 He then faced Hannibal at Ticinus 327 00:12:34,710 --> 00:12:36,960 and had to be rescued by his son. 328 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,389 Well, after he recovered from his wounds, 329 00:12:39,389 --> 00:12:41,399 he proceeded with the original plan 330 00:12:41,399 --> 00:12:43,799 and joined his brother in Spain. 331 00:12:43,799 --> 00:12:47,250 There the two Scipio brothers fought a successful campaign 332 00:12:47,250 --> 00:12:49,830 against Hannibal's brother, Hasdrubal. 333 00:12:49,830 --> 00:12:53,430 Over the next few years, they won a number of key victories, 334 00:12:53,429 --> 00:12:55,079 even taking Saguntum, 335 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:58,830 the city that had kickstarted this entire war. 336 00:12:58,830 --> 00:13:02,220 Yet more Roman success. 337 00:13:02,220 --> 00:13:04,740 A trend appeared to be emerging. 338 00:13:04,740 --> 00:13:07,799 Whenever the Romans fought anyone other than Hannibal, 339 00:13:07,799 --> 00:13:10,409 they usually came out on top. 340 00:13:10,409 --> 00:13:13,110 Perhaps these other fronts would be the key 341 00:13:13,110 --> 00:13:16,590 to Rome taking back control of this war. 342 00:13:16,590 --> 00:13:19,980 Perhaps it was time for Rome to return to their old ways 343 00:13:19,980 --> 00:13:22,379 of being the aggressive go-getters, 344 00:13:22,379 --> 00:13:24,689 and perhaps it would help 345 00:13:24,690 --> 00:13:28,421 if Rome had a Hannibal of their own. 346 00:13:28,421 --> 00:13:33,421 (thunder roars) (dramatic music) 347 00:13:34,051 --> 00:13:36,570 Scipio the Younger was the son 348 00:13:36,570 --> 00:13:39,780 of Publius Scipio, currently fighting in Spain. 349 00:13:39,779 --> 00:13:40,636 This made him a member 350 00:13:40,636 --> 00:13:43,379 of one of Rome's most prestigious families. 351 00:13:43,379 --> 00:13:45,179 Not much is known of his childhood, 352 00:13:45,179 --> 00:13:46,979 although there is one story 353 00:13:46,980 --> 00:13:49,500 of how he was getting hot and heavy with a young lady, 354 00:13:49,500 --> 00:13:51,360 only to have his dad barge in 355 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:54,029 and drag him out, wearing nothing but a cloak. 356 00:13:54,029 --> 00:13:56,159 This story was written by a Roman poet 357 00:13:56,159 --> 00:13:57,899 to make Scipio look bad, 358 00:13:57,899 --> 00:13:59,250 but by modern standards, 359 00:13:59,250 --> 00:14:02,309 has ended up making him look pretty rad. 360 00:14:02,309 --> 00:14:05,069 My guess is if Rome had a high-school football team, 361 00:14:05,070 --> 00:14:07,062 Scipio would be the quarterback. 362 00:14:07,062 --> 00:14:07,894 (upbeat rock music) 363 00:14:07,894 --> 00:14:08,727 (people cheering) 364 00:14:08,727 --> 00:14:11,879 Scipio was only 18 when the Second Punic War broke out. 365 00:14:11,879 --> 00:14:13,620 He was at the Battle of Ticinus, 366 00:14:13,620 --> 00:14:15,720 where he famously rescued his father, 367 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:18,870 and he was one of the survivors of the Battle of Cannae, 368 00:14:18,870 --> 00:14:21,269 after which he threatened to cut down any man 369 00:14:21,269 --> 00:14:23,370 who dared abandon Rome. 370 00:14:23,370 --> 00:14:27,360 He was a natural leader and up to his ears in spunk. 371 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:28,590 And therefore, he rose 372 00:14:28,590 --> 00:14:31,470 through the Roman ranks shockingly fast. 373 00:14:31,470 --> 00:14:33,149 - [Roman 1] We need a new military Tribune, 374 00:14:33,149 --> 00:14:35,100 but Hannibal has killed so many men. 375 00:14:35,100 --> 00:14:36,486 We're running out of options. 376 00:14:36,486 --> 00:14:37,649 - [Scipio The Younger] Put me in, coach! 377 00:14:37,649 --> 00:14:39,569 - [Roman 1] Scipio? You're only 20. 378 00:14:39,570 --> 00:14:40,657 You can't be a Tribune. 379 00:14:40,657 --> 00:14:41,910 - [Scipio The Younger] Come on, coach. 380 00:14:41,909 --> 00:14:42,742 Put me in. 381 00:14:42,743 --> 00:14:45,360 - [Roman 1] Well, you do have a lot of spunk. 382 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:47,207 All right, you're hired. 383 00:14:47,207 --> 00:14:48,299 (Scipio the Younger cheers) 384 00:14:48,299 --> 00:14:49,949 We need to elect a new aedile. 385 00:14:49,950 --> 00:14:50,947 Who do we have left? 386 00:14:50,947 --> 00:14:52,259 - [Scipio The Younger] Put me in, coach! 387 00:14:52,259 --> 00:14:53,250 - Scipio! 388 00:14:53,250 --> 00:14:54,817 You don't meet the minimum age requirement. 389 00:14:54,817 --> 00:14:56,370 - [Scipio The Younger] I got this, coach. 390 00:14:56,370 --> 00:14:57,629 I got this. 391 00:14:57,629 --> 00:14:58,889 - [Roman 1] Well, okay, then. 392 00:14:58,889 --> 00:15:00,061 You're in! 393 00:15:00,061 --> 00:15:01,451 (Scipio the Younger cheers) 394 00:15:01,451 --> 00:15:04,110 - [Roman 1] Ugh, my room's a mess. I gotta cook dinner. 395 00:15:04,110 --> 00:15:05,550 Oh, and would you look at that? 396 00:15:05,549 --> 00:15:08,312 My fly's down. Life sucks. 397 00:15:10,267 --> 00:15:11,975 - [Scipio The Younger] Put me in, coach. 398 00:15:11,975 --> 00:15:15,120 - [Roman 1] Wow, you're so spunky. 399 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,279 - [Narrator] When Scipio was 25, however, 400 00:15:17,279 --> 00:15:19,500 he received some bad news. 401 00:15:19,500 --> 00:15:21,539 His father and uncle in Spain 402 00:15:21,539 --> 00:15:23,699 had both been defeated in battle, 403 00:15:23,700 --> 00:15:26,940 and shockingly both of them were killed. 404 00:15:26,940 --> 00:15:30,810 The news must have been devastating for the young Scipio, 405 00:15:30,809 --> 00:15:33,539 but it was also devastating for Rome 406 00:15:33,539 --> 00:15:37,769 as almost all of their Spanish gains were wiped away. 407 00:15:37,769 --> 00:15:39,539 - [Fabius Maximus] Okay, listen up. 408 00:15:39,539 --> 00:15:42,750 We need someone to go and replace the Scipios in Spain. 409 00:15:42,750 --> 00:15:44,534 So who's up for it? 410 00:15:44,534 --> 00:15:45,569 (Romans murmuring) 411 00:15:45,570 --> 00:15:47,520 Come on. Who's gonna go? 412 00:15:47,519 --> 00:15:49,919 - [Roman 2] Fabius, Spain seems unwinnable. 413 00:15:49,919 --> 00:15:51,689 There's no glory to be had there. 414 00:15:51,690 --> 00:15:53,490 - [Roman 1] Yeah, the glory is here, 415 00:15:53,490 --> 00:15:55,680 defending the homeland from Hannibal. 416 00:15:55,679 --> 00:15:57,879 - [Fabius Maximus] Well, somebody has to go. 417 00:15:59,909 --> 00:16:03,153 I said, well, somebody has to go! 418 00:16:04,186 --> 00:16:07,875 - [Scipio The Younger] Put me in, coach! 419 00:16:07,875 --> 00:16:09,360 - [Narrator] Scipio was eager to be the one 420 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:12,480 to go and replace his father and uncle in Spain. 421 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:16,409 However, there was concern amongst the older senators. 422 00:16:16,409 --> 00:16:17,789 - [Fabius Maximus] You are only 26. 423 00:16:17,789 --> 00:16:19,881 You can't lead a military campaign. 424 00:16:19,881 --> 00:16:20,714 - [Senators] He's right. 425 00:16:20,715 --> 00:16:21,548 Yeah, he's right. 426 00:16:21,548 --> 00:16:22,626 That's a good point. Yeah. 427 00:16:22,626 --> 00:16:24,089 - [Scipio The Younger] And you're 71, 428 00:16:24,090 --> 00:16:24,930 you can't stand up 429 00:16:24,929 --> 00:16:26,939 without a little urine dribbling down your leg. 430 00:16:26,940 --> 00:16:27,773 - [Senators] That's a good point. 431 00:16:27,773 --> 00:16:29,057 He's absolutely right. 432 00:16:29,057 --> 00:16:31,289 - [Narrator] Scipio didn't meet the typical requirements 433 00:16:31,289 --> 00:16:34,319 for the position, but as the only person willing to go, 434 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:36,810 this young piece of hot Roman meat 435 00:16:36,809 --> 00:16:38,969 was unanimously elected proconsul 436 00:16:38,970 --> 00:16:41,610 and sent to lead the Roman armies in Spain. 437 00:16:41,610 --> 00:16:43,470 He hoped to carry out a campaign 438 00:16:43,470 --> 00:16:46,590 as impressive as Hannibal's had been in Italy. 439 00:16:46,590 --> 00:16:50,910 In fact, Scipio rather admired the one-eyed general. 440 00:16:50,909 --> 00:16:54,187 - [Billy] Scipio, you've got a Hannibal poster in your room? 441 00:16:54,187 --> 00:16:55,019 - [Scipio The Younger] Yes. 442 00:16:55,019 --> 00:16:56,136 - [Billy] But he's the enemy. 443 00:16:56,136 --> 00:16:57,869 - [Scipio The Younger] I'll let you in on a secret, Billy. 444 00:16:57,870 --> 00:16:59,730 You know how we're gonna win this war? 445 00:16:59,730 --> 00:17:01,695 - [Billy] By marching straight at the enemy? 446 00:17:01,695 --> 00:17:03,690 - [Scipio The Younger] No, that's the old way. 447 00:17:03,690 --> 00:17:08,250 We've gotta be less Roman and a little more Hannibal. 448 00:17:08,250 --> 00:17:10,289 Hey, by the way, don't just barge into my room. 449 00:17:10,289 --> 00:17:12,029 That's an infringement of my privacy. 450 00:17:12,029 --> 00:17:13,410 - [Billy] Privacy. 451 00:17:13,410 --> 00:17:14,850 Privacy, you say? 452 00:17:14,849 --> 00:17:18,149 Well, Scipio, if it's privacy you want, 453 00:17:18,150 --> 00:17:23,150 then you, my friend, need NordVPN! 454 00:17:23,390 --> 00:17:24,223 - [Scipio The Younger] Don't touch me. 455 00:17:24,222 --> 00:17:25,056 - [Narrator] How would you like 456 00:17:25,056 --> 00:17:27,150 to be innocently downloading inspirational photos 457 00:17:27,150 --> 00:17:28,259 of Nicholas Cage, 458 00:17:28,259 --> 00:17:31,230 only to realize it's malware stealing your data 459 00:17:31,230 --> 00:17:33,420 and telling all your friends you still sleep 460 00:17:33,420 --> 00:17:37,080 between your parents because of scary dreams. 461 00:17:37,079 --> 00:17:39,029 Yeah, didn't think so. 462 00:17:39,029 --> 00:17:42,029 And that's why you need NordVPN. 463 00:17:42,029 --> 00:17:45,389 With a single click, NordVPN connects you to secure servers 464 00:17:45,390 --> 00:17:47,850 around the world, keeping you safe from malware 465 00:17:47,849 --> 00:17:49,769 and other online threats. 466 00:17:49,769 --> 00:17:52,769 Their Threat Protection Pro features go the extra mile 467 00:17:52,769 --> 00:17:54,750 in preventing your data being stolen 468 00:17:54,750 --> 00:17:56,789 by scanning your downloads for malware, 469 00:17:56,789 --> 00:17:58,440 blocking malicious websites, 470 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:01,080 and even detecting fake online shops. 471 00:18:01,079 --> 00:18:03,750 www.dolce&banana.com? 472 00:18:03,750 --> 00:18:05,069 I don't think so. 473 00:18:05,069 --> 00:18:06,480 But that's not all. 474 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:09,180 With NordVPN, you're not just protected, 475 00:18:09,180 --> 00:18:12,060 you can also unlock better deals in other regions 476 00:18:12,059 --> 00:18:15,269 and access content that isn't available in your country. 477 00:18:15,269 --> 00:18:17,639 So get protected today by heading 478 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:21,270 to www.nordvpn.com/oversimplified, 479 00:18:21,269 --> 00:18:25,710 and grab an exclusive deal with four extra months for free. 480 00:18:25,710 --> 00:18:29,700 That's www.nordvpn.com/oversimplified. 481 00:18:29,700 --> 00:18:32,850 And as always, you'll be supporting my channel. 482 00:18:32,849 --> 00:18:33,812 So thank you. 483 00:18:35,039 --> 00:18:36,242 Now, where were we? 484 00:18:37,079 --> 00:18:38,189 Oh yeah. 485 00:18:38,190 --> 00:18:39,779 Hannibal contained, 486 00:18:39,779 --> 00:18:42,869 a young piece of hot Roman meat sent 487 00:18:42,869 --> 00:18:45,243 to lead the Roman armies in Spain. 488 00:18:45,243 --> 00:18:46,076 (dramatic music) 489 00:18:46,076 --> 00:18:49,710 Scipio was charismatic, extremely confident, bold, 490 00:18:49,710 --> 00:18:51,809 and probably most importantly of all, 491 00:18:51,809 --> 00:18:54,450 he thought differently from other Roman generals. 492 00:18:54,450 --> 00:18:55,987 - [Billy] So, Skippy, what's the plan? 493 00:18:55,987 --> 00:18:56,820 - [Scipio The Younger] Don't call me that. 494 00:18:56,819 --> 00:18:58,230 - [Billy] We're Roman, so same thing 495 00:18:58,230 --> 00:18:59,279 as usual, right? 496 00:18:59,279 --> 00:19:01,778 We march straight at the enemy, right? 497 00:19:01,778 --> 00:19:03,539 - [Scipio The Younger] Get this, Billy. 498 00:19:03,539 --> 00:19:05,666 No, we don't. 499 00:19:05,666 --> 00:19:07,109 - [Billy] What? 500 00:19:07,109 --> 00:19:09,959 - [Narrator] Scipio was a real outside-the-box thinker. 501 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:12,630 There were three main Carthaginian armies in Spain, 502 00:19:12,630 --> 00:19:15,720 two led by Hannibal's brothers, Hasdrubal and Mago, 503 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:18,000 and another led by Hasdrubal Gisco. 504 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:20,069 Most Roman generals might have looked at these armies 505 00:19:20,069 --> 00:19:21,899 and said, "I just gotta, you know, 506 00:19:21,900 --> 00:19:24,840 march straight at these guys and kick their ass and stuff." 507 00:19:24,839 --> 00:19:26,609 But not Scipio. 508 00:19:26,609 --> 00:19:30,059 At a time when many believed winning battles won wars, 509 00:19:30,059 --> 00:19:32,909 one of Scipio's greatest strengths was an ability 510 00:19:32,910 --> 00:19:36,029 to see the overall strategy behind his actions. 511 00:19:36,029 --> 00:19:39,029 He knew that Spain was the closest thing Hannibal had 512 00:19:39,029 --> 00:19:40,529 to a base of support. 513 00:19:40,529 --> 00:19:42,750 With its mass resources and manpower, 514 00:19:42,750 --> 00:19:44,430 it's where Hannibal likely hoped 515 00:19:44,430 --> 00:19:46,710 to get supplies and reinforcements from. 516 00:19:46,710 --> 00:19:50,670 Spain's base of support was the city of New Carthage, 517 00:19:50,670 --> 00:19:52,890 the most fortified city on the peninsula, 518 00:19:52,890 --> 00:19:55,020 perfectly positioned to communicate with 519 00:19:55,019 --> 00:19:57,329 and receive supplies from Africa. 520 00:19:57,329 --> 00:20:00,750 And so if Scipio managed to take New Carthage, 521 00:20:00,750 --> 00:20:02,309 he could take Spain. 522 00:20:02,309 --> 00:20:03,750 And if he took Spain, 523 00:20:03,750 --> 00:20:07,049 then maybe Hannibal would fall. 524 00:20:07,049 --> 00:20:10,319 To Scipio, Spain wasn't just some sideshow, 525 00:20:10,319 --> 00:20:12,509 it was the main show 526 00:20:12,509 --> 00:20:15,960 and it all rested on New Carthage. 527 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:19,680 But a surprise attack on Carthage's capital city in Spain? 528 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:22,230 It was a ridiculous idea. 529 00:20:22,230 --> 00:20:24,930 Even if you pull off the seven-day forced march, 530 00:20:24,930 --> 00:20:27,539 pass the Carthaginian armies to New Carthage, 531 00:20:27,539 --> 00:20:28,529 once you get there, 532 00:20:28,529 --> 00:20:30,779 you'd only have a couple weeks to take the city 533 00:20:30,779 --> 00:20:33,779 before the Carthaginians arrived to kick your ass. 534 00:20:33,779 --> 00:20:37,170 Sieges of cities that fortified usually took months, 535 00:20:37,170 --> 00:20:38,700 if not years. 536 00:20:38,700 --> 00:20:41,910 So Scipio, how are you gonna pull this off? 537 00:20:41,910 --> 00:20:43,380 Well, first of all, 538 00:20:43,380 --> 00:20:45,720 to make sure the surprise plan stayed hidden, 539 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:49,086 Scipio kept it a total secret, even from his own men. 540 00:20:49,086 --> 00:20:50,856 - [Billy] Where are we going, Skippy? 541 00:20:50,856 --> 00:20:51,990 - [Scipio The Younger] I'm not telling you. 542 00:20:51,990 --> 00:20:52,957 - [Billy] Is it Disneyland? 543 00:20:52,957 --> 00:20:54,690 - [Scipio The Younger] I'm not telling you. 544 00:20:54,690 --> 00:20:56,586 - [Billy] I think that means we're going to Disneyland. 545 00:20:56,586 --> 00:20:58,319 (soldiers giggling) 546 00:20:58,319 --> 00:21:00,210 - [Narrator] This secrecy kept the Carthaginians 547 00:21:00,210 --> 00:21:02,430 from preemptively reinforcing the city. 548 00:21:02,430 --> 00:21:05,670 As a result, New Carthage was left undergarrisoned 549 00:21:05,670 --> 00:21:07,410 because the Carthaginians believed it 550 00:21:07,410 --> 00:21:09,600 to be kind of naturally impenetrable. 551 00:21:09,599 --> 00:21:12,389 It was surrounded on three sides by a lagoon 552 00:21:12,390 --> 00:21:15,330 and only accessible via narrow isthmus. 553 00:21:15,329 --> 00:21:17,009 What's an isthmus, you ask? 554 00:21:17,009 --> 00:21:19,079 Maybe read a book. 555 00:21:19,079 --> 00:21:21,716 All right, Scipio, you made it to New Carthage. 556 00:21:21,717 --> 00:21:24,540 Now the other Carthaginian armies are only a 10-days march 557 00:21:24,539 --> 00:21:26,579 from coming and kicking your ass. 558 00:21:26,579 --> 00:21:29,369 Just what were you thinking? 559 00:21:29,369 --> 00:21:32,819 Well, Scipio had learned something crucial. 560 00:21:32,819 --> 00:21:35,309 Every afternoon, the tides made the lagoon 561 00:21:35,309 --> 00:21:39,000 around New Carthage briefly shallow enough to cross. 562 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:42,210 So he ordered a large diversionary attack 563 00:21:42,210 --> 00:21:45,930 on the main city gates, distracting the city's defenders. 564 00:21:45,930 --> 00:21:49,710 Then a small infiltration force traversed the lagoon, 565 00:21:49,710 --> 00:21:53,880 climbed the unguarded northern walls, and entered the city. 566 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:55,410 They ambushed the guards 567 00:21:55,410 --> 00:21:58,650 and opened the city gates to the rest of Scipio's army. 568 00:21:58,650 --> 00:22:00,300 And just like that, 569 00:22:00,299 --> 00:22:03,240 New Carthage had fallen 570 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:04,951 in a single day. 571 00:22:04,951 --> 00:22:08,579 Scipio had taken Carthage's capital city in Spain, 572 00:22:08,579 --> 00:22:10,980 and he made it look easy. 573 00:22:10,980 --> 00:22:13,860 With it, he seized much of Carthage's war supplies, 574 00:22:13,859 --> 00:22:15,899 several silver mines near the city, 575 00:22:15,900 --> 00:22:19,950 and various powerful Iberian tribes even joined his side. 576 00:22:19,950 --> 00:22:22,080 And now he was in a great position 577 00:22:22,079 --> 00:22:25,349 to take on the other Carthaginian armies in Spain. 578 00:22:25,349 --> 00:22:28,266 - [Billy] Wow, Skippy, you are amazing. 579 00:22:28,267 --> 00:22:29,100 - [Scipio The Younger] Don't call me that. 580 00:22:29,099 --> 00:22:30,659 - [Billy] How'd you know the lagoon would get shallow? 581 00:22:30,660 --> 00:22:32,490 It's almost like you speak to the gods. 582 00:22:32,490 --> 00:22:34,230 - [Farmer] No, I told him. 583 00:22:34,230 --> 00:22:35,616 All the local farmers know about the- 584 00:22:35,616 --> 00:22:37,680 - [Scipio The Younger] Yes! That's it. 585 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:39,401 I speak to the gods! 586 00:22:39,401 --> 00:22:41,557 - [Billy] Wow! Wow! 587 00:22:41,557 --> 00:22:43,710 - [Narrator] Scipio had no problem allowing his men 588 00:22:43,710 --> 00:22:46,559 to think he was divinely inspired. 589 00:22:46,559 --> 00:22:50,190 Roman writers also tell us another of Scipio's traits. 590 00:22:50,190 --> 00:22:52,890 He was apparently quite merciful in victory 591 00:22:52,890 --> 00:22:56,859 and often protected the inhabitants of captured cities. 592 00:22:56,858 --> 00:22:59,460 - [Scipio The Younger] Spencer, what are you doing? 593 00:22:59,460 --> 00:23:02,076 - [Spencer] Well, I was just about to murder this family. 594 00:23:02,076 --> 00:23:04,589 - [Scipio The Younger] Hey, bad Spencer! No! 595 00:23:04,589 --> 00:23:06,426 - [Spencer] Can I at least kill the dad? 596 00:23:06,426 --> 00:23:07,755 - [Scipio The Younger] No. 597 00:23:07,756 --> 00:23:09,240 - [Spencer] What about the- - [Scipio The Younger] No! 598 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:10,950 - [Spencer] Oh, you're mean. 599 00:23:10,950 --> 00:23:12,240 - [Narrator] The Carthaginian generals 600 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:14,130 in the region must have been shocked 601 00:23:14,130 --> 00:23:16,290 at the loss of their capital city. 602 00:23:16,289 --> 00:23:19,019 There was now a terminator in Spain, 603 00:23:19,019 --> 00:23:21,750 and he was coming. 604 00:23:21,750 --> 00:23:24,779 In 208 BC, he made a move on Hasdrubal, 605 00:23:24,779 --> 00:23:27,809 hoping to defeat him before the other Carthaginian armies 606 00:23:27,809 --> 00:23:29,220 could come and link up. 607 00:23:29,220 --> 00:23:32,663 When Hasdrubal heard Scipio was coming, he said... 608 00:23:32,663 --> 00:23:34,200 (Hasdrubal screams) 609 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:36,059 Hasdrubal did this sensible thing 610 00:23:36,059 --> 00:23:38,321 and climbed a big hill for safety. 611 00:23:38,321 --> 00:23:39,989 - [Scipio The Younger] Hey, get down here. 612 00:23:39,990 --> 00:23:41,009 I want to kill you! 613 00:23:41,009 --> 00:23:42,997 - [Hasdrubal] Fat chance, Vin Diesel. 614 00:23:42,997 --> 00:23:45,269 - [Scipio The Younger] Well, he doesn't have to be rude. 615 00:23:45,269 --> 00:23:46,980 - [Billy] So what's the plan then, Scipio? 616 00:23:46,980 --> 00:23:50,460 This time we march straight up and at 'em, right? 617 00:23:50,460 --> 00:23:51,769 Right, Scipio? 618 00:23:51,769 --> 00:23:53,641 - [Scipio The Younger] Billy, no. 619 00:23:53,641 --> 00:23:55,050 - [Billy] What? 620 00:23:55,049 --> 00:23:56,609 - [Narrator] Scipio once again displayed 621 00:23:56,609 --> 00:23:59,009 a distinctly not-Roman approach to fighting. 622 00:23:59,009 --> 00:24:01,365 When, instead of marching straight up and at 'em, 623 00:24:01,365 --> 00:24:03,450 Scipio feigned a frontal skirmish, 624 00:24:03,450 --> 00:24:07,500 only to pull off a surprise uphill envelopment. 625 00:24:07,500 --> 00:24:09,000 Not an easy thing to do, 626 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,970 but Scipio had trained his army to pull off maneuvers 627 00:24:11,970 --> 00:24:14,370 that typical Roman armies couldn't. 628 00:24:14,369 --> 00:24:17,489 After the battle, the defeated Hasdrubal fled Spain, 629 00:24:17,490 --> 00:24:20,880 hoping to link up with his brother Hannibal in Italy. 630 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:23,504 And Hannibal desperately needed the help. 631 00:24:23,503 --> 00:24:24,336 (tense music) 632 00:24:24,336 --> 00:24:26,579 As Scipio was dominating in Spain, 633 00:24:26,579 --> 00:24:29,970 Hannibal's struggles in Southern Italy continued. 634 00:24:29,970 --> 00:24:31,140 He was convinced that 635 00:24:31,140 --> 00:24:34,050 if he just received ample supplies and reinforcements, 636 00:24:34,049 --> 00:24:35,819 he could reverse his fortunes 637 00:24:35,819 --> 00:24:38,609 and get back to kicking Rome's ass. 638 00:24:38,609 --> 00:24:40,229 But for the remainder of the war, 639 00:24:40,230 --> 00:24:43,049 he would suffer a frustrating lack of support 640 00:24:43,049 --> 00:24:45,450 from the Carthaginian senate. 641 00:24:45,450 --> 00:24:48,509 After Cannae, Hannibal had sent his brother, Mago, 642 00:24:48,509 --> 00:24:51,869 to Carthage, where he famously poured out golden rings 643 00:24:51,869 --> 00:24:54,239 taken from fallen Roman knights. 644 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:57,120 He told the Senate that, with reinforcements, 645 00:24:57,119 --> 00:24:59,429 Hannibal could finish the job. 646 00:24:59,430 --> 00:25:01,529 But a growing faction in the Senate, 647 00:25:01,529 --> 00:25:04,259 possibly jealous of Hannibal's rising influence, 648 00:25:04,259 --> 00:25:06,660 opposed sending any help. 649 00:25:06,660 --> 00:25:09,660 In the end, a large number of the reinforcements gathered 650 00:25:09,660 --> 00:25:12,509 for Hannibal now ended up being diverted 651 00:25:12,509 --> 00:25:15,390 to stop Scipio in Spain. 652 00:25:15,390 --> 00:25:19,200 Just as he had hoped, Scipio's campaign in Spain 653 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:22,440 was actively harming Hannibal in Italy. 654 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:24,779 However, those reinforcements meant 655 00:25:24,779 --> 00:25:26,250 that when Scipio made a move 656 00:25:26,250 --> 00:25:28,799 on the remaining Carthaginian armies in Spain, 657 00:25:28,799 --> 00:25:31,289 they now likely outnumbered him. 658 00:25:31,289 --> 00:25:33,359 With the odds heavily stacked against him, 659 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:36,479 it would take some serious skill to win this battle. 660 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:37,980 - [Billy] This time we're gonna march straight 661 00:25:37,980 --> 00:25:38,813 at them, right? 662 00:25:38,813 --> 00:25:39,646 - [Scipio The Younger] No, Billy. 663 00:25:39,645 --> 00:25:41,129 - [Billy] What? 664 00:25:41,130 --> 00:25:42,960 - [Narrator] The preceding Battle of Ilipa 665 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:45,690 is often considered Scipio's masterpiece 666 00:25:45,690 --> 00:25:47,820 because it was positively oozing 667 00:25:47,819 --> 00:25:50,309 with deception and trickery. 668 00:25:50,309 --> 00:25:53,700 First, both sides spent several days forming up 669 00:25:53,700 --> 00:25:56,670 and facing off without actually fighting. 670 00:25:56,670 --> 00:25:57,570 On each day, 671 00:25:57,569 --> 00:26:00,869 Scipio placed his strongest Roman legions in the center, 672 00:26:00,869 --> 00:26:03,959 with his weaker Iberian allies on the sides. 673 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:06,129 Seeing this, the Carthaginians were like... 674 00:26:06,128 --> 00:26:07,409 - [Carthaginian General] This guy's an idiot! 675 00:26:07,410 --> 00:26:08,700 We've seen his plan. 676 00:26:08,700 --> 00:26:11,370 His strongest troops are going to be in the center, 677 00:26:11,369 --> 00:26:13,469 so let's form all of our battle plans based 678 00:26:13,470 --> 00:26:14,850 on this information. 679 00:26:14,849 --> 00:26:17,279 I'm sure he won't change anything at the last minute. 680 00:26:17,279 --> 00:26:19,289 - [Narrator] Then when the day of battle came, 681 00:26:19,289 --> 00:26:21,059 Scipio woke up the Carthaginians 682 00:26:21,059 --> 00:26:22,529 with an early morning attack, 683 00:26:22,529 --> 00:26:25,559 causing them to rush out of camp without breakfast. 684 00:26:25,559 --> 00:26:27,480 When the Carthaginians lined up 685 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:30,750 with their strongest troops in the center to meet Scipio's, 686 00:26:30,750 --> 00:26:32,039 they were stunned to find 687 00:26:32,039 --> 00:26:35,099 that Scipio had completely reversed his order. 688 00:26:35,099 --> 00:26:37,169 The weaker Carthaginian sides 689 00:26:37,170 --> 00:26:40,560 now found Scipio's strongest bearing down on them. 690 00:26:40,559 --> 00:26:43,679 Then, in an extremely impressive maneuver, 691 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:46,560 the well-trained Roman wings even stretched out 692 00:26:46,559 --> 00:26:47,789 during their approach, 693 00:26:47,789 --> 00:26:50,250 hitting the Carthaginians from the sides. 694 00:26:50,250 --> 00:26:53,069 The Carthaginian center could have turned to help, 695 00:26:53,069 --> 00:26:56,490 but Scipio had ordered his center to approach so slowly 696 00:26:56,490 --> 00:26:58,950 that Carthage's center could do nothing 697 00:26:58,950 --> 00:27:00,690 but just stand and wait. 698 00:27:00,690 --> 00:27:03,120 In this way, the outnumbered Scipio 699 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:05,009 had cleverly controlled events 700 00:27:05,009 --> 00:27:08,160 so that the bulk of the strongest Carthaginian troops 701 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:10,710 couldn't even fight during the battle. 702 00:27:10,710 --> 00:27:13,769 He had completely removed them from the equation. 703 00:27:13,769 --> 00:27:18,240 The incredible Scipio had inflicted a monumental defeat 704 00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:20,849 on a much larger enemy force. 705 00:27:20,849 --> 00:27:24,449 And the Battle of Ilipa was the final nail in the coffin 706 00:27:24,450 --> 00:27:26,640 for Carthaginian Spain. 707 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:29,730 Yet more tribes people continued to side with the Romans, 708 00:27:29,730 --> 00:27:32,789 and the remaining Carthaginians retreated to the coast 709 00:27:32,789 --> 00:27:36,029 and eventually fled the peninsula. 710 00:27:36,029 --> 00:27:38,309 And would you look at that? 711 00:27:38,309 --> 00:27:39,809 In just a few years, 712 00:27:39,809 --> 00:27:44,809 the incredible young Scipio had turned Spain completely red. 713 00:27:44,970 --> 00:27:48,360 The Carthaginians must have been stunned. 714 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:50,609 His Spanish campaign had almost been 715 00:27:50,609 --> 00:27:53,849 as impressive as Hannibal's campaign in Italy. 716 00:27:53,849 --> 00:27:56,789 In fact, see if any of this sounds familiar. 717 00:27:56,789 --> 00:27:59,399 In Spain, Scipio had used the environment 718 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:01,530 of the battlefield to his advantage. 719 00:28:01,529 --> 00:28:04,170 He staged ambushes by concealed troops. 720 00:28:04,170 --> 00:28:06,269 He treated local tribes people well, 721 00:28:06,269 --> 00:28:07,829 earning their friendship. 722 00:28:07,829 --> 00:28:10,139 He even once forced his enemy to come out 723 00:28:10,140 --> 00:28:12,330 and fight him without breakfast. 724 00:28:12,329 --> 00:28:15,629 Each and every one of these tactics were possibly borrowed 725 00:28:15,630 --> 00:28:17,760 from a certain one-eyed general. 726 00:28:17,759 --> 00:28:20,490 In all the battles Scipio had fought against Hannibal, 727 00:28:20,490 --> 00:28:23,670 it seemed he may have been taking notes. 728 00:28:23,670 --> 00:28:25,682 - [Hannibal] Hey, Scipio! 729 00:28:25,682 --> 00:28:26,516 - [Scipio The Younger] What? 730 00:28:26,516 --> 00:28:28,531 - [Hannibal] Stop stealing my tactics! 731 00:28:28,530 --> 00:28:31,530 - [Scipio The Younger] I'm 700 miles away. I can't hear you. 732 00:28:32,432 --> 00:28:34,191 - [Hannibal] What did you say? 733 00:28:34,191 --> 00:28:36,690 - [Scipio The Younger] What? 734 00:28:36,690 --> 00:28:37,523 - [Hannibal] What? 735 00:28:37,522 --> 00:28:39,269 - [Narrator] Better yet, Scipio's achievement 736 00:28:39,269 --> 00:28:41,369 in taking a well-fortified city, 737 00:28:41,369 --> 00:28:44,039 plus his understanding of the overall strategy, 738 00:28:44,039 --> 00:28:45,329 has led some historians 739 00:28:45,329 --> 00:28:48,389 to argue he wasn't just as good as Hannibal, 740 00:28:48,390 --> 00:28:51,540 Scipio may actually have been better. 741 00:28:51,539 --> 00:28:54,839 This young man, who many in Rome had doubted, 742 00:28:54,839 --> 00:28:59,220 had just shut those Silly Billies right the flip up. 743 00:28:59,220 --> 00:29:02,100 Mere years ago, it looked like Rome had no chance 744 00:29:02,099 --> 00:29:04,019 of even surviving this war. 745 00:29:04,019 --> 00:29:08,819 But now the momentum of war was shifting astonishingly fast. 746 00:29:08,819 --> 00:29:13,319 And for Hannibal in Italy, things continued to head south. 747 00:29:13,319 --> 00:29:15,480 Before Scipio had even gone to Spain, 748 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:17,250 the Romans had placed Capua, 749 00:29:17,250 --> 00:29:20,940 Hannibal's largest city in Italy, under a dangerous siege. 750 00:29:20,940 --> 00:29:22,410 And in order to rescue it, 751 00:29:22,410 --> 00:29:25,920 Hannibal needed to take drastic action fast. 752 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:28,470 - [Hannibal] Man, everything's falling apart. 753 00:29:28,470 --> 00:29:30,059 Ugh, fine. 754 00:29:30,059 --> 00:29:31,139 I'll do it. 755 00:29:31,140 --> 00:29:31,973 - [Soldier] Do what? 756 00:29:31,972 --> 00:29:33,750 - [Hannibal] Yeah, yeah. You've convinced me. 757 00:29:33,750 --> 00:29:35,579 I'll march on Rome. 758 00:29:35,579 --> 00:29:38,129 - [Soldier] Hannibal, that conversation was five years ago. 759 00:29:38,130 --> 00:29:39,030 It's too late. 760 00:29:39,029 --> 00:29:40,619 No one's trying to convince you to march on Rome. 761 00:29:40,619 --> 00:29:42,359 - [Hannibal] I said, I'll do it! 762 00:29:42,359 --> 00:29:44,309 Quit nagging me. Ugh. 763 00:29:44,309 --> 00:29:46,319 - [Narrator] Hannibal finally marched on Rome, 764 00:29:46,319 --> 00:29:49,049 hoping it might draw the Romans away from Capua. 765 00:29:49,049 --> 00:29:52,200 The Romans saw Hannibal approaching their city 766 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:55,019 and they freaked the hell out. 767 00:29:55,019 --> 00:29:58,379 Hannibal is said to have closely approached the city walls, 768 00:29:58,380 --> 00:30:00,120 inspecting the defenses, 769 00:30:00,119 --> 00:30:03,329 as the Romans inside quivered in their togas. 770 00:30:03,329 --> 00:30:06,779 However, Hannibal probably knew he had no chance 771 00:30:06,779 --> 00:30:08,099 of taking the city. 772 00:30:08,099 --> 00:30:11,849 The whole thing was a feint, and Hannibal soon left. 773 00:30:11,849 --> 00:30:14,226 The Romans famously coined the phrase, 774 00:30:14,227 --> 00:30:16,140 "Hannibal is at the gates," 775 00:30:16,140 --> 00:30:19,830 to describe a moment of crisis or severe desperation. 776 00:30:19,829 --> 00:30:21,149 But for accuracy's sake, 777 00:30:21,150 --> 00:30:23,880 the phrase should probably be, "Hannibal is at the gates. 778 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:25,500 But don't worry, it's just a feint 779 00:30:25,500 --> 00:30:26,957 to draw the Romans away from Capua. 780 00:30:26,957 --> 00:30:29,670 And it didn't even work because the Romans stayed at Capua 781 00:30:29,670 --> 00:30:31,890 and the Capuans misunderstood 782 00:30:31,890 --> 00:30:33,690 and thought Hannibal had abandoned them, 783 00:30:33,690 --> 00:30:36,177 and so they surrendered the city." 784 00:30:37,049 --> 00:30:39,389 But apparently that's not as catchy. 785 00:30:39,390 --> 00:30:41,100 Despite a few successes, 786 00:30:41,099 --> 00:30:43,319 including an ambush in 208 BC 787 00:30:43,319 --> 00:30:46,559 where Hannibal managed to kill both Consuls in one go, 788 00:30:46,559 --> 00:30:47,609 Hannibal was slowly 789 00:30:47,609 --> 00:30:51,269 but steadily losing his grip on Southern Italy. 790 00:30:51,269 --> 00:30:54,480 Even Hasdrubal, who had fled Spain to join Hannibal, 791 00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:56,220 never reached his brother. 792 00:30:56,220 --> 00:30:58,799 He made his own dramatic crossing of the Alps, 793 00:30:58,799 --> 00:31:00,299 just as Hannibal had done. 794 00:31:00,299 --> 00:31:03,299 But unlike Hannibal, the second Hasdrubal arrived in Italy, 795 00:31:03,299 --> 00:31:05,700 he was immediately pulverized. 796 00:31:05,700 --> 00:31:07,529 The Romans then took his head 797 00:31:07,529 --> 00:31:11,039 and threw it over the walls into his brother's camp. 798 00:31:11,039 --> 00:31:14,552 Hannibal was becoming extremely isolated. 799 00:31:15,569 --> 00:31:18,096 After his impressive conquest of Spain, 800 00:31:18,096 --> 00:31:20,759 Scipio returned to Rome a hero. 801 00:31:20,759 --> 00:31:23,549 And when the election came for next year's Consuls, 802 00:31:23,549 --> 00:31:25,950 despite not meeting the typical requirements, 803 00:31:25,950 --> 00:31:28,500 Scipio won in a landslide. 804 00:31:28,500 --> 00:31:32,130 But the question now was, what would he do next? 805 00:31:32,130 --> 00:31:34,470 - [Fabius Maximus] All right, what's your plan then, Scipio? 806 00:31:34,470 --> 00:31:36,423 You're gonna go fight Hannibal now, right? 807 00:31:36,423 --> 00:31:38,700 - [Scipio The Younger] Get this, Fabius. 808 00:31:38,700 --> 00:31:39,533 No. 809 00:31:39,532 --> 00:31:40,365 - [Senators] What? 810 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:45,690 - [Narrator] Scipio's plan remained the same as before. 811 00:31:45,690 --> 00:31:47,910 Don't attack the monster directly, 812 00:31:47,910 --> 00:31:49,526 attack his base of support. 813 00:31:49,526 --> 00:31:50,359 - [Hannibal] Oof. 814 00:31:50,358 --> 00:31:53,369 - [Narrator] Which now happened to be Carthage itself. 815 00:31:53,369 --> 00:31:57,329 That's right. Scipio would invade Africa. 816 00:31:57,329 --> 00:32:01,349 However, Scipio understood that any invasion of Africa 817 00:32:01,349 --> 00:32:03,029 would stand a much better chance 818 00:32:03,029 --> 00:32:04,649 if he could secure an alliance 819 00:32:04,650 --> 00:32:06,720 with one of the African tribes. 820 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:07,553 Throughout the war, 821 00:32:07,553 --> 00:32:10,320 Carthage's far superior Numidian cavalry, 822 00:32:10,319 --> 00:32:12,419 which came from this part of Africa, 823 00:32:12,420 --> 00:32:15,265 had played a critical role in winning battles. 824 00:32:15,265 --> 00:32:18,570 Numidia was divided between two rival kings. 825 00:32:18,569 --> 00:32:20,759 In the east, the king, Syphax, 826 00:32:20,759 --> 00:32:23,309 had sympathized with Rome for much of the war. 827 00:32:23,309 --> 00:32:26,279 And so at some point, Scipio visited Syphax 828 00:32:26,279 --> 00:32:28,319 to ratify at treaty. 829 00:32:28,319 --> 00:32:30,029 It just so happened, however, 830 00:32:30,029 --> 00:32:32,700 that the Carthaginian general, Hasdrubal Gisco, 831 00:32:32,700 --> 00:32:34,680 whom Scipio had fought in Spain, 832 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:37,410 also arrived at the exact same time. 833 00:32:37,410 --> 00:32:41,850 And so Syphax invited both Scipio and Gisco for a meal. 834 00:32:41,849 --> 00:32:44,639 The two men fought for Syphax's alliance. 835 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:48,730 And by Roman accounts, Scipio was positively charming. 836 00:32:48,730 --> 00:32:49,980 - [Scipio The Younger] Come on, Syphax, 837 00:32:49,980 --> 00:32:51,210 stick with us Romans. 838 00:32:51,210 --> 00:32:53,009 We'll build a naked statue of you. 839 00:32:53,009 --> 00:32:54,599 - [Syphax] Very enticing. 840 00:32:54,599 --> 00:32:56,339 - [Gisco] If you join our side, Syphax, 841 00:32:56,339 --> 00:32:58,349 we'll give you a 2% discount on figs. 842 00:32:58,349 --> 00:33:00,209 You like figs, don't you? 843 00:33:00,210 --> 00:33:01,043 - [Syphax] Not really. 844 00:33:01,042 --> 00:33:01,949 - [Scipio The Younger] Hey, Syphax. 845 00:33:01,950 --> 00:33:02,883 Check this out. 846 00:33:04,349 --> 00:33:05,182 - [Syphax] Wow! 847 00:33:05,182 --> 00:33:07,600 - [Gisco] Hey, Syphax. Check this out. 848 00:33:07,601 --> 00:33:08,590 (body thuds) 849 00:33:08,589 --> 00:33:09,438 (plates clattering) 850 00:33:09,439 --> 00:33:10,272 (Gisco farts) 851 00:33:10,271 --> 00:33:11,441 - [Syphax] Did he just defecate? 852 00:33:11,441 --> 00:33:12,660 - [Scipio The Younger] I believe he did. 853 00:33:12,660 --> 00:33:13,920 - [Syphax] Well, Scipio, 854 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:17,700 you clearly are the most charming man in the Mediterranean. 855 00:33:17,700 --> 00:33:20,067 My alliance is... 856 00:33:20,067 --> 00:33:21,390 - [Gisco] Syphax, I'll let you marry 857 00:33:21,390 --> 00:33:22,690 my extremely hot daughter. 858 00:33:24,119 --> 00:33:25,127 - [Syphax] Yours! 859 00:33:25,127 --> 00:33:26,369 Humminah humminah! 860 00:33:26,369 --> 00:33:28,769 - [Narrator] Unable to compete with Syphax's libido, 861 00:33:28,769 --> 00:33:31,829 Scipio instead, made contact with Syphax's rival, 862 00:33:31,829 --> 00:33:34,589 the other Numidian king, Masinissa, 863 00:33:34,589 --> 00:33:37,202 who was a longtime ally of Carthage. 864 00:33:37,202 --> 00:33:38,992 Scipio told Masinissa... 865 00:33:38,992 --> 00:33:40,259 - [Scipio The Younger] If you join the Romans, 866 00:33:40,259 --> 00:33:41,849 I'll help you defeat Syphax 867 00:33:41,849 --> 00:33:44,372 and become the ultimate Numidian king. 868 00:33:46,481 --> 00:33:49,440 - [Narrator] And so Masinissa was now on Team Rome. 869 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:50,940 Good job, Skippy. 870 00:33:50,940 --> 00:33:53,220 With a Numidian alliance solidified, 871 00:33:53,220 --> 00:33:56,370 Scipio prepared for his invasion of Africa. 872 00:33:56,369 --> 00:33:58,049 He raised a volunteer force 873 00:33:58,049 --> 00:34:01,230 that included many of the disgraced survivors from Cannae. 874 00:34:01,230 --> 00:34:02,823 And he set sail. 875 00:34:04,319 --> 00:34:06,629 - [Syphax] Well, Terry, any news from Italy? 876 00:34:06,630 --> 00:34:08,707 Has Hannibal won the war yet? 877 00:34:09,914 --> 00:34:13,673 Who on earth? 878 00:34:13,673 --> 00:34:17,384 - [Scipio The Younger] Here's Skippy! 879 00:34:17,384 --> 00:34:19,050 - [Terry] Oh my God! 880 00:34:20,610 --> 00:34:22,680 - [Narrator] The Roman landing sent a clear message 881 00:34:22,679 --> 00:34:24,269 to the Carthaginians. 882 00:34:24,269 --> 00:34:25,769 You don't invade us. 883 00:34:25,769 --> 00:34:26,699 No, no. 884 00:34:26,699 --> 00:34:28,799 We invade you. 885 00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:30,600 For the first time in the war, 886 00:34:30,599 --> 00:34:33,179 the Carthaginian homeland was under threat, 887 00:34:33,179 --> 00:34:37,949 and the Carthaginians needed to defeat Scipio at all costs. 888 00:34:37,949 --> 00:34:41,219 They gathered a huge army led by Hasdrubal Gisco, 889 00:34:41,219 --> 00:34:43,859 with allied Numidians led by Syphax, 890 00:34:43,860 --> 00:34:45,750 and they ordered them to get Scipio 891 00:34:45,750 --> 00:34:47,909 the hell off their continent. 892 00:34:47,909 --> 00:34:52,109 Sources say at this point, Scipio was severely outnumbered. 893 00:34:52,110 --> 00:34:54,840 - [Billy] Scipio, that army's huge! 894 00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:57,300 There's no way we can beat off all these men. 895 00:34:57,300 --> 00:34:59,586 How are we gonna beat off all these men? 896 00:34:59,586 --> 00:35:01,710 - [Scipio The Younger] Vigorously! 897 00:35:01,710 --> 00:35:04,230 And while maintaining eye contact. 898 00:35:04,230 --> 00:35:06,659 - [Narrator] As always, Scipio had a plan to deal 899 00:35:06,659 --> 00:35:08,609 with the larger enemy force. 900 00:35:08,610 --> 00:35:11,250 It just so happened that Syphax was offering 901 00:35:11,250 --> 00:35:12,599 to try and broker peace 902 00:35:12,599 --> 00:35:15,086 between the Romans and the Carthaginians. 903 00:35:15,086 --> 00:35:17,820 And Scipio smelled an opportunity. 904 00:35:17,820 --> 00:35:20,700 He sent a Roman envoy to Syphax's camp. 905 00:35:20,699 --> 00:35:23,129 And when they got there, Syphax was like... 906 00:35:23,130 --> 00:35:25,320 - [Syphax] Hey, guys, welcome to the enemy camp. 907 00:35:25,320 --> 00:35:27,180 Just before we begin negotiations, 908 00:35:27,179 --> 00:35:28,949 a small safety demonstration. 909 00:35:28,949 --> 00:35:30,809 As you can see, our huts are made 910 00:35:30,809 --> 00:35:33,750 of grass and reeds, very flammable. 911 00:35:33,750 --> 00:35:35,730 If there was even a single spark, 912 00:35:35,730 --> 00:35:37,949 this whole place would become a inferno 913 00:35:37,949 --> 00:35:40,952 and all my men would burn alive. 914 00:35:42,300 --> 00:35:43,289 - [Billy] Very interesting. 915 00:35:43,289 --> 00:35:44,969 - [Narrator] The Roman troops then reported back 916 00:35:44,969 --> 00:35:48,299 to Scipio about the Numidian camp, its construction, 917 00:35:48,300 --> 00:35:51,480 and, most importantly, its flammability. 918 00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:53,460 Then, the following night, 919 00:35:53,460 --> 00:35:57,480 as the sun was setting over the beautiful African plains 920 00:35:57,480 --> 00:36:00,599 and the Carthaginians got all comfy in their beds, 921 00:36:00,599 --> 00:36:04,380 they began to gently dream of Carthaginian figs 922 00:36:04,380 --> 00:36:06,539 and child sacrifice. 923 00:36:06,539 --> 00:36:08,550 Goodnight, Carthaginians. 924 00:36:08,550 --> 00:36:09,950 Goodnight, Syphax and Gisco. 925 00:36:11,519 --> 00:36:14,460 Good evening, Scipio. 926 00:36:14,460 --> 00:36:16,920 In the night shadowy Roman figures 927 00:36:16,920 --> 00:36:19,139 approached the Numidian camp. 928 00:36:19,139 --> 00:36:21,389 As the Numidians lay in their beds, 929 00:36:21,389 --> 00:36:24,032 Scipio executed his plan. 930 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:27,359 (fire whooshing) 931 00:36:27,360 --> 00:36:30,000 The camp erupted into flames. 932 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:31,980 With the flammable wooden huts, 933 00:36:31,980 --> 00:36:35,219 the fires spread terrifyingly fast. 934 00:36:35,219 --> 00:36:37,859 Men were burned in their beds. 935 00:36:37,860 --> 00:36:40,680 Those who awoke in a panic believing the fire 936 00:36:40,679 --> 00:36:43,139 to have been some kind of terrible accident, 937 00:36:43,139 --> 00:36:46,679 rushed to the exits without their weapons and armor. 938 00:36:46,679 --> 00:36:49,169 Those who saw the fire from the Carthaginian camp 939 00:36:49,170 --> 00:36:51,300 also rushed out unarmed. 940 00:36:51,300 --> 00:36:55,260 And when they got there, there he was, 941 00:36:55,260 --> 00:36:58,969 Scipio, the Romans, and their steel. 942 00:36:58,969 --> 00:37:01,719 (dramatic music) 943 00:37:06,960 --> 00:37:09,929 The terrified Carthaginians were massacred. 944 00:37:09,929 --> 00:37:11,819 And with heavy casualties, 945 00:37:11,820 --> 00:37:16,260 Hasdrubal and Syphax fled the scene of the disaster. 946 00:37:16,260 --> 00:37:18,900 Scipio followed this incredible success 947 00:37:18,900 --> 00:37:20,760 with another victory against the pair 948 00:37:20,760 --> 00:37:22,890 at the Battle of the Great Plains. 949 00:37:22,889 --> 00:37:26,069 After that, Masinissa chased his rival Syphax 950 00:37:26,070 --> 00:37:29,640 into his kingdom where Syphax was captured. 951 00:37:29,639 --> 00:37:33,900 Masinissa was now the ultimate Numidian king. 952 00:37:33,900 --> 00:37:36,000 He entered Syphax's capital city. 953 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:38,369 He seized Syphax's palace. 954 00:37:38,369 --> 00:37:41,159 He even married Syphax's wife. 955 00:37:41,159 --> 00:37:42,719 And when Scipio got mad at him 956 00:37:42,719 --> 00:37:44,519 for marrying a Carthaginian girl, 957 00:37:44,519 --> 00:37:46,710 he then poisoned his wife. 958 00:37:46,710 --> 00:37:48,929 Boys will be boys. 959 00:37:48,929 --> 00:37:51,509 Having defeated the Carthaginian armies in Africa, 960 00:37:51,510 --> 00:37:55,230 almost nothing now stood between Scipio and Carthage. 961 00:37:55,230 --> 00:37:58,346 And the Carthaginians were freaking out. 962 00:37:58,346 --> 00:37:59,871 - [Carthaginian] What do we do? What do we do? 963 00:37:59,871 --> 00:38:02,490 - [Carthaginian General] There's only one thing left to do. 964 00:38:02,489 --> 00:38:04,862 Recall him. 965 00:38:06,809 --> 00:38:08,969 - [Gerald] Well, Hannibal, you've been here in Italy 966 00:38:08,969 --> 00:38:10,349 for 16 years. 967 00:38:10,349 --> 00:38:12,059 This is practically your home. 968 00:38:12,059 --> 00:38:13,590 You're basically Italian. 969 00:38:13,590 --> 00:38:14,550 - [Hannibal] Yes, Gerald. 970 00:38:14,550 --> 00:38:16,470 And I've had such a lovely time. 971 00:38:16,469 --> 00:38:17,639 I ate spaghetti, 972 00:38:17,639 --> 00:38:19,379 did-a this-a with-a my hands. 973 00:38:19,380 --> 00:38:21,690 I've committed my whole life to this campaign. 974 00:38:21,690 --> 00:38:25,650 And once Rome has fallen, it'll all have been worth it. 975 00:38:25,650 --> 00:38:27,599 - [Carthaginian] Hannibal, you have to return to Carthage. 976 00:38:27,599 --> 00:38:29,519 Your Italian campaign has been for nothing. 977 00:38:29,519 --> 00:38:32,369 Your whole life has been a waste. 978 00:38:32,369 --> 00:38:33,202 - [Hannibal] No! 979 00:38:34,829 --> 00:38:37,380 - [Narrator] Imagine being Hannibal in this moment. 980 00:38:37,380 --> 00:38:39,720 You left Carthage when you were nine. 981 00:38:39,719 --> 00:38:42,569 You probably barely even recognize your own homeland. 982 00:38:42,570 --> 00:38:46,110 The kingdom he had built in Spain with his father, gone. 983 00:38:46,110 --> 00:38:48,090 And now his Italian campaign, 984 00:38:48,090 --> 00:38:51,811 his vengeance, was it really all for nothing? 985 00:38:51,811 --> 00:38:52,644 (melancholy music) 986 00:38:52,643 --> 00:38:54,389 But that was that. 987 00:38:54,389 --> 00:38:56,009 Carthage was under threat, 988 00:38:56,010 --> 00:38:58,920 and Hannibal had to protect his home city. 989 00:38:58,920 --> 00:39:03,150 As he left Italy, in Rome there was celebration, 990 00:39:03,150 --> 00:39:05,340 but also some trepidation. 991 00:39:05,340 --> 00:39:08,820 Now Scipio would have to face Hannibal in Africa, 992 00:39:08,820 --> 00:39:11,820 where Hannibal would have home advantage. 993 00:39:11,820 --> 00:39:13,440 While Hannibal was on his way, 994 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:15,443 the Carthaginians stalled for time 995 00:39:15,443 --> 00:39:17,616 and approached Scipio for peace talks. 996 00:39:17,617 --> 00:39:20,370 - [Carthaginian General] Hey, look, we never meant 997 00:39:20,369 --> 00:39:22,545 to start an all-out two-decade-long war. 998 00:39:22,545 --> 00:39:23,378 - [Scipio The Younger] But you did. 999 00:39:23,378 --> 00:39:25,470 - [Carthaginian General] No, that was Hannibal. 1000 00:39:25,469 --> 00:39:27,462 He's to blame for all of this. 1001 00:39:27,463 --> 00:39:28,710 - [Scipio The Younger] Well, all right then. 1002 00:39:28,710 --> 00:39:29,706 Sign this peace treaty. 1003 00:39:29,706 --> 00:39:32,759 - [Carthaginian General] Okay. 1004 00:39:32,760 --> 00:39:36,810 Let me just get my signature right on there. 1005 00:39:36,809 --> 00:39:37,822 - [Carthaginian] He's here! 1006 00:39:37,822 --> 00:39:38,970 - [Carthaginian General] Yes. 1007 00:39:38,969 --> 00:39:42,119 Oh, look who's here, you bald prick! 1008 00:39:42,119 --> 00:39:45,893 You are so dead now, Skippy! 1009 00:39:45,893 --> 00:39:50,009 - [Scipio The Younger] Don't call me that! 1010 00:39:50,010 --> 00:39:51,900 - [Narrator] After Carthage proposed peace, 1011 00:39:51,900 --> 00:39:53,519 only to then go back on it, 1012 00:39:53,519 --> 00:39:56,880 the normally merciful Scipio was enraged. 1013 00:39:56,880 --> 00:39:59,490 He began refusing to accept towns' surrender, 1014 00:39:59,489 --> 00:40:03,059 and instead began burning everything to the ground, 1015 00:40:03,059 --> 00:40:05,699 selling everyone into slavery. 1016 00:40:05,699 --> 00:40:07,949 - [Carthaginian] Hannibal, he's burning our towns. 1017 00:40:07,949 --> 00:40:09,000 Go stop him. 1018 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:10,469 - [Hannibal] Guys, he's obviously trying 1019 00:40:10,469 --> 00:40:12,719 to lure me out there to fight on those flat plains 1020 00:40:12,719 --> 00:40:15,269 where his Numidian cavalry will give him the advantage. 1021 00:40:15,269 --> 00:40:16,199 It's a trick. 1022 00:40:16,199 --> 00:40:18,096 - [Carthaginian] Well, it's working. 1023 00:40:18,096 --> 00:40:19,320 Go and fight him. 1024 00:40:19,320 --> 00:40:20,970 - [Hannibal] It's obviously a trap. 1025 00:40:20,969 --> 00:40:22,529 - [Carthaginian] And we're falling for it. 1026 00:40:22,530 --> 00:40:23,880 Go and fight him! 1027 00:40:23,880 --> 00:40:24,750 - [Narrator] Hannibal set out 1028 00:40:24,750 --> 00:40:27,360 to meet Scipio in the Western Plains. 1029 00:40:27,360 --> 00:40:30,599 And here came Scipio's final test. 1030 00:40:30,599 --> 00:40:34,079 Finally, the teacher would face the student, 1031 00:40:34,079 --> 00:40:36,480 the two greatest generals of all time 1032 00:40:36,480 --> 00:40:39,780 in one last decisive battle. 1033 00:40:39,780 --> 00:40:42,750 Would Hannibal's genius still shine through? 1034 00:40:42,750 --> 00:40:44,010 Or would Scipio prove 1035 00:40:44,010 --> 00:40:47,250 that he had surpassed the master? 1036 00:40:47,250 --> 00:40:49,650 Before battle, the two great generals rode out 1037 00:40:49,650 --> 00:40:52,807 from their camps and met in person for the first time. 1038 00:40:52,806 --> 00:40:55,889 - [Scipio The Younger] Hannibal, I'm a huge fan. 1039 00:40:55,889 --> 00:40:56,976 - [Hannibal] I thought you'd have more hair. 1040 00:40:56,976 --> 00:40:59,279 - [Scipio The Younger] And I thought you'd have more eyes. 1041 00:40:59,280 --> 00:41:00,150 - [Hannibal] Touche. 1042 00:41:00,150 --> 00:41:01,530 - [Narrator] They then had a conversation, 1043 00:41:01,530 --> 00:41:02,970 which I'll paraphrase. 1044 00:41:02,969 --> 00:41:05,069 Hannibal said, "At the start of this war, 1045 00:41:05,070 --> 00:41:07,050 I had great fortune in Italy. 1046 00:41:07,050 --> 00:41:08,340 But look at me now, 1047 00:41:08,340 --> 00:41:11,400 a sad old man who, like other sad old men, 1048 00:41:11,400 --> 00:41:13,079 failed to conquer Rome. 1049 00:41:13,079 --> 00:41:15,929 Your fortune can change rapidly, Scipio. 1050 00:41:15,929 --> 00:41:18,029 You should consider negotiating a peace, 1051 00:41:18,030 --> 00:41:21,840 rather than risking it all in one last fight against me." 1052 00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:23,899 Very eloquently put. 1053 00:41:23,898 --> 00:41:27,449 Scipio then replied, "(bleeps) you! 1054 00:41:27,449 --> 00:41:30,179 Negotiate? Negotiate what? 1055 00:41:30,179 --> 00:41:31,589 I took Spain. 1056 00:41:31,590 --> 00:41:34,559 I'm about to burn your pathetic city to the ground. 1057 00:41:34,559 --> 00:41:37,230 What could you offer me in negotiations? 1058 00:41:37,230 --> 00:41:39,047 I already have it all. 1059 00:41:39,047 --> 00:41:42,539 Ah! 1060 00:41:42,539 --> 00:41:43,409 Seriously though, Hannibal, 1061 00:41:43,409 --> 00:41:44,609 I am such a big fan." 1062 00:41:44,610 --> 00:41:46,410 And so it was settled. 1063 00:41:46,409 --> 00:41:49,769 The two great generals would face off one last time 1064 00:41:49,769 --> 00:41:53,639 in the epic Battle of Zama. 1065 00:41:53,639 --> 00:41:54,989 Scipio gave his men, 1066 00:41:54,989 --> 00:41:57,569 consisting of many survivors from Cannae, 1067 00:41:57,570 --> 00:41:58,980 a pre-battle speech, 1068 00:41:58,980 --> 00:42:01,650 telling them not only would they gain redemption, 1069 00:42:01,650 --> 00:42:04,829 but they could become masters of the world. 1070 00:42:04,829 --> 00:42:07,409 Hannibal told his men probably nothing 1071 00:42:07,409 --> 00:42:10,139 because most of them didn't even speak the same language. 1072 00:42:10,139 --> 00:42:12,539 As the two armies lined up for battle, 1073 00:42:12,539 --> 00:42:15,239 something interesting became clear. 1074 00:42:15,239 --> 00:42:16,919 Hannibal had more infantry 1075 00:42:16,920 --> 00:42:20,250 and hoped to use them to brute strength the Romans. 1076 00:42:20,250 --> 00:42:23,219 But Scipio had the nimble Numidian cavalry 1077 00:42:23,219 --> 00:42:25,379 and hoped to pull off an envelopment. 1078 00:42:25,380 --> 00:42:29,070 It was a complete roll reversal of Cannae. 1079 00:42:29,070 --> 00:42:33,300 As the battle began, Hannibal made his first move. 1080 00:42:33,300 --> 00:42:35,130 He sent his 80 war elephants 1081 00:42:35,130 --> 00:42:38,369 to smash through and weaken the Roman infantry. 1082 00:42:38,369 --> 00:42:41,400 Scipio had the perfect response. 1083 00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:43,139 He had altered his formation 1084 00:42:43,139 --> 00:42:46,139 to create passages between the Roman maniples. 1085 00:42:46,139 --> 00:42:48,659 His light troops stepped aside at the right moment, 1086 00:42:48,659 --> 00:42:51,899 revealing the gaps ahead of the charging elephants. 1087 00:42:51,900 --> 00:42:53,760 Elephants, if given the choice 1088 00:42:53,760 --> 00:42:56,160 between a suicide charge into spears 1089 00:42:56,159 --> 00:42:57,839 or a nice clean escape, 1090 00:42:57,840 --> 00:42:59,760 will probably choose the escape. 1091 00:42:59,760 --> 00:43:01,440 And that's what happened. 1092 00:43:01,440 --> 00:43:04,110 Some elephants were so frightened from the noise 1093 00:43:04,110 --> 00:43:05,370 that they even turned 1094 00:43:05,369 --> 00:43:08,219 and smashed back into the Carthaginian cavalry, 1095 00:43:08,219 --> 00:43:11,099 which the Roman cavalry then engaged. 1096 00:43:11,099 --> 00:43:13,230 Your move, Hannibal. 1097 00:43:13,230 --> 00:43:15,269 Hannibal wasn't an idiot. 1098 00:43:15,269 --> 00:43:18,420 He knew that he was fighting superior Numidian cavalry 1099 00:43:18,420 --> 00:43:19,800 on open plains. 1100 00:43:19,800 --> 00:43:22,440 So when his weaker cavalry ended up being routed 1101 00:43:22,440 --> 00:43:25,590 from the battlefield, he probably wasn't surprised 1102 00:43:25,590 --> 00:43:27,720 and hoped the Roman cavalry would be lured 1103 00:43:27,719 --> 00:43:30,000 as far from the battlefield as possible 1104 00:43:30,000 --> 00:43:35,000 because his infantry needed time to do a clever little job. 1105 00:43:35,369 --> 00:43:37,710 Hannibal had the numerical advantage, 1106 00:43:37,710 --> 00:43:40,710 and he had positioned his army in three lines. 1107 00:43:40,710 --> 00:43:44,159 The weaker troops were at the front while his best men, 1108 00:43:44,159 --> 00:43:47,339 the army that had been with him in Italy, were in the rear. 1109 00:43:47,340 --> 00:43:50,190 As the Romans smashed into the weaker front lines, 1110 00:43:50,190 --> 00:43:51,840 they managed to cut through them, 1111 00:43:51,840 --> 00:43:55,320 but suffered losses and exhaustion in doing so. 1112 00:43:55,320 --> 00:43:57,539 The same with Hannibal's second line, 1113 00:43:57,539 --> 00:43:58,559 so that by the time 1114 00:43:58,559 --> 00:44:01,230 the Romans reached Hannibal's superior third line, 1115 00:44:01,230 --> 00:44:04,409 the two sides may have now been about equal in number. 1116 00:44:04,409 --> 00:44:06,629 But the exhausted Romans 1117 00:44:06,630 --> 00:44:09,390 had just fought an entire battle to get there 1118 00:44:09,389 --> 00:44:12,420 while the remaining Carthaginians were fresh 1119 00:44:12,420 --> 00:44:14,099 and ready to go. 1120 00:44:14,099 --> 00:44:16,860 Hannibal was still a genius. 1121 00:44:16,860 --> 00:44:19,890 And this is where the final race began. 1122 00:44:19,889 --> 00:44:23,159 Could Hannibal's stronger infantry finish off the Romans 1123 00:44:23,159 --> 00:44:26,369 before the Roman cavalry returned from their pursuit? 1124 00:44:26,369 --> 00:44:28,319 Who would be quicker, 1125 00:44:28,320 --> 00:44:32,190 the Carthaginian infantry or the Roman cavalry? 1126 00:44:32,190 --> 00:44:33,023 The answer: 1127 00:44:34,949 --> 00:44:36,329 the cavalry. 1128 00:44:36,329 --> 00:44:38,880 They had called off their pursuit just in time 1129 00:44:38,880 --> 00:44:42,269 to turn around and hit Hannibal from the rear. 1130 00:44:42,269 --> 00:44:45,119 And that was the deciding move. 1131 00:44:45,119 --> 00:44:48,569 As the sandwiched Carthaginians were hacked to pieces, 1132 00:44:48,570 --> 00:44:52,920 Hannibal knew he had lost and he escaped the battlefield. 1133 00:44:52,920 --> 00:44:55,230 It was a battle that some historians say 1134 00:44:55,230 --> 00:44:57,659 was well fought on both sides. 1135 00:44:57,659 --> 00:44:59,759 Both showed their genius, 1136 00:44:59,760 --> 00:45:03,660 but fortune fell in the favor of Scipio. 1137 00:45:03,659 --> 00:45:06,389 With just a few thousand Roman casualties 1138 00:45:06,389 --> 00:45:09,500 compared to 40,000 Carthaginians, 1139 00:45:09,501 --> 00:45:11,685 Scipio had won. 1140 00:45:11,684 --> 00:45:12,960 (ominous music) 1141 00:45:12,960 --> 00:45:15,449 Hannibal advised the Carthaginian senate 1142 00:45:15,449 --> 00:45:18,119 that it was time to surrender. 1143 00:45:18,119 --> 00:45:21,873 17 years of war finally over. 1144 00:45:22,739 --> 00:45:26,039 The terms Rome placed on Carthage were harsh. 1145 00:45:26,039 --> 00:45:27,300 They lost territory 1146 00:45:27,300 --> 00:45:30,570 and were prohibited from starting any more wars with anyone 1147 00:45:30,570 --> 00:45:32,970 without Rome's explicit permission. 1148 00:45:32,969 --> 00:45:36,839 Carthage basically became a weak Roman client state. 1149 00:45:36,840 --> 00:45:39,720 And what of these two military geniuses? 1150 00:45:39,719 --> 00:45:43,619 Well, Scipio returned to Rome triumphant. 1151 00:45:43,619 --> 00:45:45,420 For his victory in Africa, 1152 00:45:45,420 --> 00:45:49,170 he was given the title Scipio Africanus. 1153 00:45:49,170 --> 00:45:52,740 He had delivered Rome from an existential threat. 1154 00:45:52,739 --> 00:45:54,599 And so from here on out, 1155 00:45:54,599 --> 00:45:57,599 he was primed to dominate Roman politics. 1156 00:45:57,599 --> 00:46:00,569 He was even offered to become Consul for Life, 1157 00:46:00,570 --> 00:46:02,610 but he humbly refused. 1158 00:46:02,610 --> 00:46:06,690 Politics being what it is however, jealousy eventually grew. 1159 00:46:06,690 --> 00:46:09,630 Scipio and his family ended up battling accusations 1160 00:46:09,630 --> 00:46:11,550 of corruption and Scipio, 1161 00:46:11,550 --> 00:46:14,039 possibly becoming tired of Roman politics, 1162 00:46:14,039 --> 00:46:18,090 retired to a nice country house by the coast. 1163 00:46:18,090 --> 00:46:20,010 Hannibal also took a leading role 1164 00:46:20,010 --> 00:46:22,590 in Carthaginian politics after the war. 1165 00:46:22,590 --> 00:46:25,740 But again, due to jealousy, factionalism, 1166 00:46:25,739 --> 00:46:28,319 and a possibility of arrest by the Romans, 1167 00:46:28,320 --> 00:46:30,660 he eventually entered exile. 1168 00:46:30,659 --> 00:46:33,659 He spent the remainder of his years out east, 1169 00:46:33,659 --> 00:46:36,029 even advising enemies of Rome. 1170 00:46:36,030 --> 00:46:38,400 Rome's hatred of Hannibal endured 1171 00:46:38,400 --> 00:46:39,630 and they never stopped hoping 1172 00:46:39,630 --> 00:46:42,570 to someday capture the monster. 1173 00:46:42,570 --> 00:46:44,160 One story is told of how, 1174 00:46:44,159 --> 00:46:46,259 when a much older Hannibal was chilling 1175 00:46:46,260 --> 00:46:47,850 in the city of Ephesus, 1176 00:46:47,849 --> 00:46:50,159 a Roman delegation was sent to the city. 1177 00:46:50,159 --> 00:46:54,179 And in that delegation was Scipio Africanus. 1178 00:46:54,179 --> 00:46:56,789 The two men met for the second time, 1179 00:46:56,789 --> 00:46:59,429 and they seem to have gotten along quite well. 1180 00:46:59,429 --> 00:47:00,839 Scipio asked Hannibal 1181 00:47:00,840 --> 00:47:04,350 who he thought the three greatest generals of all time were. 1182 00:47:04,349 --> 00:47:07,409 Hannibal placed Alexander the Great in number one, 1183 00:47:07,409 --> 00:47:09,659 Pyrrhus of Epirus in number two, 1184 00:47:09,659 --> 00:47:12,239 and in third place, himself. 1185 00:47:12,239 --> 00:47:13,536 Scipio then asked, 1186 00:47:13,536 --> 00:47:16,596 "And what if you had defeated me at Zama?" 1187 00:47:16,597 --> 00:47:20,850 "Well, Scipio, then I would have been the greatest general 1188 00:47:20,849 --> 00:47:22,460 of all time." 1189 00:47:22,460 --> 00:47:25,230 - [Scipio The Younger] Please, call me Skippy. 1190 00:47:25,231 --> 00:47:26,940 (generals giggling) 1191 00:47:26,940 --> 00:47:29,789 - [Narrator] Eventually around 183 BC, 1192 00:47:29,789 --> 00:47:31,860 Hannibal, now in his 60s, 1193 00:47:31,860 --> 00:47:34,200 came under threat of Roman capture. 1194 00:47:34,199 --> 00:47:38,489 After a long life, he chose to take some poison. 1195 00:47:38,489 --> 00:47:41,196 According to Livy, his last words, 1196 00:47:41,197 --> 00:47:44,309 "Let us now relieve the Romans of the anxiety 1197 00:47:44,309 --> 00:47:46,139 they have so long experienced 1198 00:47:46,139 --> 00:47:48,809 since they think it tries their patience too much 1199 00:47:48,809 --> 00:47:51,809 to wait for an old man's death." 1200 00:47:51,809 --> 00:47:54,962 - [Servant] Wow, Hannibal, what a dignified end. 1201 00:47:57,119 --> 00:47:57,952 Gross. 1202 00:47:57,952 --> 00:47:59,039 - [Narrator] And there you have it. 1203 00:47:59,039 --> 00:48:02,309 The Second Punic War, finally done. 1204 00:48:02,309 --> 00:48:04,829 It took 17 years to end the war. 1205 00:48:04,829 --> 00:48:06,119 And on a personal note, 1206 00:48:06,119 --> 00:48:10,230 making these videos has also taken 17 years off my life. 1207 00:48:10,230 --> 00:48:13,469 Carthage began to recover from the war shockingly fast, 1208 00:48:13,469 --> 00:48:18,059 however, and anxieties over Carthage would remain in Rome. 1209 00:48:18,059 --> 00:48:21,360 In particular, one Senator would begin calling 1210 00:48:21,360 --> 00:48:24,720 for one last crusade against Carthage 1211 00:48:24,719 --> 00:48:27,929 to end the threat once and for all. 1212 00:48:27,929 --> 00:48:31,079 He famously began to end all of his speeches 1213 00:48:31,079 --> 00:48:33,480 with one singular phrase, 1214 00:48:33,480 --> 00:48:38,016 one of the most famous phrases in Roman history. 1215 00:48:38,016 --> 00:48:40,766 (dramatic music)