WEBVTT 00:00:00.210 --> 00:00:03.209 - [Narrator] This video was made possible by NordVPN. 00:00:03.209 --> 00:00:04.650 Click the link in the description 00:00:04.650 --> 00:00:06.180 to get an exclusive deal 00:00:06.179 --> 00:00:08.099 with four extra months. 00:00:08.099 --> 00:00:11.009 Head over to the merch store to pick up some character pins, 00:00:11.009 --> 00:00:12.990 calendars, and more. 00:00:12.990 --> 00:00:16.410 Also ever needed to enact vengeance on your enemies, 00:00:16.410 --> 00:00:18.539 but always felt too shy? 00:00:18.539 --> 00:00:21.960 Well, fear not Little Hannibal is here. 00:00:21.960 --> 00:00:23.609 Support our channel by heading over 00:00:23.609 --> 00:00:26.189 to www.oversimplified.youtooz.com 00:00:26.190 --> 00:00:29.700 and buying your very own pocket-sized piece of vengeance. 00:00:29.699 --> 00:00:33.149 Our exclusive Hannibal figure is in limited supply, 00:00:33.149 --> 00:00:34.472 so get it quick. 00:00:35.609 --> 00:00:38.359 (dramatic music) 00:00:40.996 --> 00:00:43.829 (swords clanging) 00:00:49.256 --> 00:00:50.898 (soldiers screaming) 00:00:50.898 --> 00:00:53.164 (swords clanging) 00:00:53.164 --> 00:00:56.746 (dramatic music continues) 00:00:58.582 --> 00:01:02.100 (soldiers screaming) (swords clanging) 00:01:02.100 --> 00:01:05.683 (dramatic music continues) 00:01:18.441 --> 00:01:21.358 (Romans screaming) 00:01:22.662 --> 00:01:25.439 (ominous music) 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:27.932 How do you solve a problem like Hannibal? 00:01:29.650 --> 00:01:32.039 (Romans screaming) 00:01:32.040 --> 00:01:33.900 In a crisis such as this, 00:01:33.900 --> 00:01:36.330 the Romans often turned to religion. 00:01:36.329 --> 00:01:37.409 - [Roman 1] What's going on? 00:01:37.409 --> 00:01:38.879 Are the gods mad at us? 00:01:38.879 --> 00:01:40.679 The Gods must be mad at us. 00:01:40.680 --> 00:01:41.598 - [Roman 2] But why? 00:01:41.597 --> 00:01:42.900 - [Roman 3] I know why. 00:01:42.900 --> 00:01:45.600 Two of the Vestal Virgins broke their sacred oath 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:47.309 and lost their virginity! 00:01:47.310 --> 00:01:49.650 That's why Hannibal's kicking our ass! 00:01:49.650 --> 00:01:50.937 - [Roman 2] What should we do with them? 00:01:50.936 --> 00:01:54.516 - [Roman 4] Appease the gods, bury them alive. 00:01:54.516 --> 00:01:57.000 (Romans cheering) 00:01:57.000 --> 00:01:58.260 - [Roman 1] Who did they even boink? 00:01:58.260 --> 00:02:00.090 - [Roman 2] It was those guys. 00:02:00.090 --> 00:02:00.923 - [Roman 5] Huh? 00:02:00.923 --> 00:02:01.756 - [Roman 1] What should we do with them? 00:02:01.756 --> 00:02:02.588 - [Roman 3] Beat them to death! 00:02:04.548 --> 00:02:05.939 (Romans cheering) (blows thudding) 00:02:05.939 --> 00:02:09.362 - [Narrator] Needless to say, the Romans were freaking out. 00:02:12.360 --> 00:02:14.340 - [Roman 1] Okay, now that that's out of our system, 00:02:14.340 --> 00:02:15.629 let's go find a real solution. 00:02:15.629 --> 00:02:16.650 - [Narrator] The real solution, 00:02:16.650 --> 00:02:19.319 first of all, involved raising a new army. 00:02:19.319 --> 00:02:21.090 Remember, at Cannae, 00:02:21.090 --> 00:02:23.759 Hannibal had wiped out the biggest army Rome 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:28.759 had ever fielded, possibly 20% of Rome's military-aged men. 00:02:28.770 --> 00:02:32.130 Rome needed to replace those losses and fast 00:02:32.129 --> 00:02:35.069 before Hannibal arrived at their gates. 00:02:35.069 --> 00:02:37.349 But where would those replacements come from? 00:02:37.349 --> 00:02:39.989 Rome had a few ideas. 00:02:39.990 --> 00:02:42.510 - [Roman 1] Quick, lower the age of conscription! 00:02:42.509 --> 00:02:43.342 You! 00:02:43.342 --> 00:02:44.729 Put down those Digimons. 00:02:44.729 --> 00:02:46.469 You're a soldier now. 00:02:46.469 --> 00:02:49.109 Enlist all these slaves with the promise of freedom! 00:02:49.109 --> 00:02:50.250 (slave cheers) 00:02:50.250 --> 00:02:52.740 And equip them with all these religious weapons and armor. 00:02:52.740 --> 00:02:54.420 Anything we've got! 00:02:54.419 --> 00:02:58.739 All right, men, you are Rome's last line of defense. 00:02:58.740 --> 00:03:00.075 Man the walls! 00:03:00.074 --> 00:03:02.370 (children cheering) 00:03:02.371 --> 00:03:05.038 (ominous music) 00:03:07.349 --> 00:03:09.750 - [Narrator] After the earth-shattering defeat at Cannae, 00:03:09.750 --> 00:03:11.759 the Romans expected Hannibal to arrive 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:13.889 at their gates any day now. 00:03:13.889 --> 00:03:17.309 In Hannibal's camp, the mood was triumphant. 00:03:17.310 --> 00:03:19.050 - [Soldier 1] We did it. We won. 00:03:19.050 --> 00:03:20.460 So when do we march on Rome? 00:03:20.460 --> 00:03:21.293 Today? 00:03:21.293 --> 00:03:22.260 - [Soldier 2] I'm free in 10 minutes. 00:03:22.259 --> 00:03:23.849 - [Hannibal] Whoa. Whoa. Slow down. 00:03:23.849 --> 00:03:24.935 We're not going to Rome. 00:03:24.935 --> 00:03:26.099 (soldiers gasping) 00:03:26.099 --> 00:03:27.449 We're staying right here. 00:03:27.449 --> 00:03:29.129 - [Soldier 1] Are you an idiot, Hannibal? 00:03:29.129 --> 00:03:30.719 - [Hannibal] No, I'm smart. 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:32.669 We don't need to march on Rome 00:03:32.669 --> 00:03:34.409 because, after what we did, 00:03:34.409 --> 00:03:37.620 the Romans are definitely going to surrender. 00:03:37.620 --> 00:03:38.520 Watch. 00:03:38.520 --> 00:03:39.390 Hey, Jimbob? 00:03:39.389 --> 00:03:40.222 - [Jimbob] Yes, sir? 00:03:40.223 --> 00:03:41.760 - [Hannibal] Go to Rome and discuss peace terms. 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:42.989 - [Jimbob] Yes, sir. 00:03:42.990 --> 00:03:45.480 Hey, I'm here to discuss peace terms terms. 00:03:45.479 --> 00:03:46.587 - [Fabius Maximus] Piss off! 00:03:46.587 --> 00:03:49.768 - [Jimbob] They told me to piss off! 00:03:49.768 --> 00:03:52.469 - [Hannibal] What? They didn't surrender? 00:03:52.469 --> 00:03:55.020 - [Jimbob] No, and they were mean! 00:03:57.870 --> 00:03:59.099 - [Narrator] Hannibal was learning 00:03:59.099 --> 00:04:03.150 that Rome had an unprecedented attitude towards surrender. 00:04:03.150 --> 00:04:05.460 Even when Hannibal offered to ransom thousands 00:04:05.460 --> 00:04:07.080 of prisoners back to Rome, 00:04:07.080 --> 00:04:09.450 a pretty common practice in ancient warfare, 00:04:09.449 --> 00:04:13.019 the Romans refused, opting to let their own men be sold 00:04:13.020 --> 00:04:16.769 into slavery rather than paying a penny to the enemy. 00:04:16.769 --> 00:04:19.589 It was clear that in order to defeat Rome, 00:04:19.589 --> 00:04:21.869 you had to annihilate them. 00:04:21.870 --> 00:04:26.459 If any Roman man was still standing, you hadn't yet won. 00:04:26.459 --> 00:04:29.819 But still, Hannibal decided not to march on Rome 00:04:29.819 --> 00:04:32.279 and it was a controversial decision. 00:04:32.279 --> 00:04:34.686 Even one of his own commanders famously told him, 00:04:34.687 --> 00:04:36.810 "Hannibal, you know how to win a battle, 00:04:36.810 --> 00:04:38.810 but you do not know how to win a war." 00:04:38.810 --> 00:04:41.159 (soldiers laughing) 00:04:41.160 --> 00:04:42.570 From Hannibal's perspective, 00:04:42.569 --> 00:04:44.250 perhaps he knew his army was designed 00:04:44.250 --> 00:04:47.490 to survive behind enemy lines and sow chaos. 00:04:47.490 --> 00:04:49.019 It may not have been well equipped 00:04:49.019 --> 00:04:50.819 to undertake a risky siege 00:04:50.819 --> 00:04:53.459 of one of the most fortified cities on earth. 00:04:53.459 --> 00:04:56.219 Plus with many of the southern cities defecting 00:04:56.220 --> 00:04:57.870 to his side after Cannae, 00:04:57.870 --> 00:05:01.500 Hannibal likely thought things were going pretty well as is. 00:05:01.500 --> 00:05:03.300 - [Hannibal] We'll stay the course. 00:05:03.300 --> 00:05:05.340 Okay, so the Romans didn't surrender 00:05:05.339 --> 00:05:06.959 after three major defeats, 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:10.871 but surely they'll surrender after four. 00:05:10.872 --> 00:05:13.530 (soldiers groaning) 00:05:13.529 --> 00:05:14.879 - [Narrator] Unfortunately for Hannibal, 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:16.560 however, after Cannae, 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:19.262 the Romans well and truly learned their lesson. 00:05:20.189 --> 00:05:22.500 - [Fabius Maximus] Well, would you look at that? 00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:24.600 Remind me, who was it that said Hannibal 00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:26.670 was too dangerous to fight? 00:05:26.670 --> 00:05:27.509 - [Senator] You. 00:05:27.509 --> 00:05:28.889 - [Fabius Maximus] And who said we shouldn't 00:05:28.889 --> 00:05:30.419 fight him directly? 00:05:30.420 --> 00:05:31.253 - [Senator] You. 00:05:31.252 --> 00:05:34.110 - [Fabius Maximus] And who tried to fight him directly? 00:05:34.110 --> 00:05:34.943 - [Senator] Us. 00:05:34.942 --> 00:05:36.060 - [Fabius Maximus] And what happened? 00:05:36.060 --> 00:05:40.079 - [Senator] We lost 20% of our military-aged men. 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:41.550 - [Fabius Maximus] That's right. 00:05:41.550 --> 00:05:44.883 So tell me, when Hannibal approaches, what do we do? 00:05:46.199 --> 00:05:47.430 - [Senator] We run away. 00:05:47.430 --> 00:05:49.263 - [Fabius Maximus] I'm a genius. 00:05:50.100 --> 00:05:50.933 Clap for me! 00:05:50.932 --> 00:05:52.439 (senators clapping) 00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:54.810 - [Narrator] After Cannae, Fabius Maximus kind of 00:05:54.810 --> 00:05:57.240 became the unofficial leader of Rome. 00:05:57.240 --> 00:05:59.129 Even if others were elected Consul, 00:05:59.129 --> 00:06:01.379 his influence was unparalleled 00:06:01.379 --> 00:06:03.000 and Rome quickly reverted 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:06.269 to the Fabian strategy of avoiding Hannibal. 00:06:06.269 --> 00:06:08.009 They knew they couldn't defeat him, 00:06:08.009 --> 00:06:12.089 so instead they hoped they could at least contain him. 00:06:12.089 --> 00:06:14.549 They raised an impressively large number of men, 00:06:14.550 --> 00:06:17.670 partly by enlisting teenagers, slaves, and criminals. 00:06:17.670 --> 00:06:19.650 And rather than trying to fight Hannibal, 00:06:19.649 --> 00:06:21.929 they instead turned their attention towards 00:06:21.930 --> 00:06:25.500 those treacherous southern cities that had switched sides. 00:06:25.500 --> 00:06:27.509 - [Hannibal] Thanks for joining the winning team, guys. 00:06:27.509 --> 00:06:28.439 Here's the deal. 00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:31.079 All you have to do is provide me some troops 00:06:31.079 --> 00:06:32.430 and defend your own city, 00:06:32.430 --> 00:06:35.069 since I'll be too busy to defend it for you. 00:06:35.069 --> 00:06:39.120 Now, I'm going to briefly turn around, look this way, 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:40.530 and when I look back, 00:06:40.529 --> 00:06:42.926 you better not be being massacred by the Rome... 00:06:42.927 --> 00:06:44.040 Oh, for goodness sake! 00:06:44.040 --> 00:06:45.150 - [Narrator] The Romans spread out 00:06:45.149 --> 00:06:46.769 their newly-formed legions 00:06:46.769 --> 00:06:49.229 and began attacking the southern cities here, 00:06:49.230 --> 00:06:50.850 there, everywhere. 00:06:50.850 --> 00:06:53.670 The southern cities expected to have Hannibal's protection 00:06:53.670 --> 00:06:56.850 and Hannibal was inundated with requests for help. 00:06:56.850 --> 00:06:58.890 He was forced to run around southern Italy, 00:06:58.889 --> 00:07:00.629 trying to encourage defection, 00:07:00.629 --> 00:07:02.550 while rescuing his own allies. 00:07:02.550 --> 00:07:05.550 But when he showed up, the Romans would often leave, 00:07:05.550 --> 00:07:08.579 only to come back the second he went away again. 00:07:08.579 --> 00:07:10.229 And as these southern cities found 00:07:10.230 --> 00:07:12.750 themselves being punished severely by the Romans, 00:07:12.750 --> 00:07:15.089 they began to realize that joining Hannibal 00:07:15.089 --> 00:07:17.489 may not have been such a good idea. 00:07:17.490 --> 00:07:18.997 - [Hannibal] Hey, you think you're so big? 00:07:18.997 --> 00:07:21.060 Attacking my allies! 00:07:21.060 --> 00:07:23.310 Why don't you come out and face me? 00:07:23.310 --> 00:07:27.269 - [Roman Soldier] Because you are scary. 00:07:27.269 --> 00:07:28.620 - [Narrator] The fickle southern cities 00:07:28.620 --> 00:07:30.240 frequently switched sides depending 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:31.710 on who appeared to be winning, 00:07:31.709 --> 00:07:34.169 and the whole situation became a nightmare 00:07:34.170 --> 00:07:35.819 for Hannibal to control, 00:07:35.819 --> 00:07:38.339 playing a constant game of Roman whack-a-mole 00:07:38.339 --> 00:07:40.979 to fend off the enemy armies. 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:43.800 Having not long ago seemed near extinction, 00:07:43.800 --> 00:07:46.949 the Romans had managed to turn this situation around 00:07:46.949 --> 00:07:50.399 by placing Hannibal in a clever predicament. 00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:51.989 If he left Southern Italy, 00:07:51.990 --> 00:07:54.960 the southern cities would likely capitulate to Rome, 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:56.729 meaning he couldn't leave. 00:07:56.730 --> 00:07:58.710 And since the Romans wouldn't fight him, 00:07:58.709 --> 00:08:01.919 he couldn't inflict any more dangerous defeats. 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:04.920 For now, Hannibal had been muzzled. 00:08:04.920 --> 00:08:07.140 Southern Italy had been his prize 00:08:07.139 --> 00:08:09.689 for his impressive Italian campaign, 00:08:09.689 --> 00:08:11.759 but those clever Romans found a way 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:15.779 to take his prize and turn it into his prison. 00:08:15.779 --> 00:08:19.409 With the Fabian strategy neutralizing Hannibal for now, 00:08:19.410 --> 00:08:22.800 the Romans were freed up to refocus their attention 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:24.692 to other fronts. 00:08:26.279 --> 00:08:28.559 This whole time while we've been discussing Hannibal 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:31.290 and the Italian campaign of the Second Punic War, 00:08:31.290 --> 00:08:34.289 fighting had actually been occurring elsewhere. 00:08:34.289 --> 00:08:38.789 For example, in 216 BC, the Romans had sent an army north 00:08:38.789 --> 00:08:41.699 to punish the Celtic tribes that had joined Hannibal. 00:08:41.700 --> 00:08:45.030 However, as the Romans entered the Litana Forest, 00:08:45.029 --> 00:08:49.139 little did they know those clever Celts had set up a trap. 00:08:49.139 --> 00:08:52.500 The Celts dropped trees on them, decimating the Romans, 00:08:52.500 --> 00:08:54.600 and they even took the commander's head 00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:57.600 to use as a religious sippy cup. 00:08:57.600 --> 00:08:59.399 So that went pretty bad. 00:08:59.399 --> 00:09:01.139 Whoa, very bad. 00:09:01.139 --> 00:09:03.269 But thankfully in other theaters, 00:09:03.269 --> 00:09:05.490 things were going a bit better. 00:09:05.490 --> 00:09:08.639 For example, let's look at Sicily. 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:11.699 After Cannae, internal chaos in Syracuse caused 00:09:11.700 --> 00:09:14.550 this longtime Roman ally to switch sides, 00:09:14.549 --> 00:09:17.370 because being a winner is more fun. 00:09:17.370 --> 00:09:19.649 The Carthaginians also landed troops, 00:09:19.649 --> 00:09:21.689 hoping to retake their lost island, 00:09:21.690 --> 00:09:24.930 while Roman proconsul, Claudius Marcellus, moved in 00:09:24.929 --> 00:09:26.879 to besiege Syracuse. 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:30.330 The siege was a brutal slug for the Romans, 00:09:30.330 --> 00:09:33.389 largely due to the presence of one famous scientist 00:09:33.389 --> 00:09:35.819 and mathematician, Archimedes. 00:09:35.820 --> 00:09:37.650 He lived in Syracuse at the time, 00:09:37.649 --> 00:09:40.289 and he invented a variety of clever contraptions 00:09:40.289 --> 00:09:41.639 to defend the city. 00:09:41.639 --> 00:09:43.500 There was a giant claw that could grab 00:09:43.500 --> 00:09:45.090 and destroy Roman ships 00:09:45.090 --> 00:09:47.040 and purportedly even a big mirror 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:49.469 that could magically ignite them. 00:09:49.470 --> 00:09:51.840 The Carthaginian forces on the island attempted 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:53.759 to come to Syracuse's rescue, 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:55.169 but luckily for the Romans, 00:09:55.169 --> 00:09:58.379 they all got diarrhea and then died. 00:09:58.379 --> 00:10:00.480 Finally, in the city itself, 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:02.843 the day of a big annual religious festival came 00:10:02.842 --> 00:10:04.899 and the Syracusans said... 00:10:04.899 --> 00:10:05.879 - [Syracusan General] Well, fellas, 00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:08.580 we've been holding off the Romans for over a year now. 00:10:08.580 --> 00:10:10.771 I think we've earned ourselves a little party. 00:10:10.770 --> 00:10:13.319 (Syracusans cheering) 00:10:13.320 --> 00:10:15.750 - [Carl] Sir, we're still under a massive siege. 00:10:15.750 --> 00:10:16.830 Are you sure? 00:10:16.830 --> 00:10:18.568 They'll probably take advantage of it. 00:10:18.567 --> 00:10:20.610 - [Syracusan General] Well, Carl, I'm taking advantage 00:10:20.610 --> 00:10:21.750 of the open bar. 00:10:21.750 --> 00:10:23.376 - [Carl] Sir, they've got battering rams. 00:10:23.376 --> 00:10:25.229 - [Syracusan General] Well, Carl, I'm ramming 00:10:25.230 --> 00:10:27.450 these hor d'oeuvres into my mouth. 00:10:27.450 --> 00:10:29.497 - [Carl] Sir, they'll tear down our walls. 00:10:29.496 --> 00:10:32.069 - [Syracusan General] Well, Carl, I'm tearing it up 00:10:32.070 --> 00:10:33.240 on the dance floor. 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:35.623 - [Carl] Sir, they're literally at the gates. 00:10:35.623 --> 00:10:37.980 - [Syracusan General] Well, Carl, I am literally 00:10:37.980 --> 00:10:39.688 at the cheese platter. 00:10:39.688 --> 00:10:41.519 (people screaming) 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:42.990 - [Narrator] Marcellus took advantage 00:10:42.990 --> 00:10:45.629 of the drunken festivities, stormed the city, 00:10:45.629 --> 00:10:47.669 and plundering ensued. 00:10:47.669 --> 00:10:50.610 In the chaos, Marcellus ordered Archimedes 00:10:50.610 --> 00:10:52.139 be captured alive. 00:10:52.139 --> 00:10:55.620 Some sources say Roman troops entered Archimedes' home 00:10:55.620 --> 00:10:56.519 and they were like... 00:10:56.519 --> 00:10:57.870 - [Roman Soldier] Hey, man, are you the math guy? 00:10:57.870 --> 00:10:59.460 - [Archimedes] Go away. I'm drawing circles. 00:10:59.460 --> 00:11:00.389 - [Roman Soldier] Look, I just need to know 00:11:00.389 --> 00:11:01.222 if you're the nerd. 00:11:01.222 --> 00:11:02.055 - [Archimedes] Come on, bro. 00:11:02.056 --> 00:11:03.389 Get outta here. You're messing up my circles. 00:11:03.389 --> 00:11:04.949 - [Roman Soldier] Now is not a good time to draw circles. 00:11:04.950 --> 00:11:06.330 - [Archimedes] It's always a good time for circles. 00:11:06.330 --> 00:11:07.560 I love circles. 00:11:07.559 --> 00:11:08.729 - [Roman Soldier] Either stop drawing the circles 00:11:08.730 --> 00:11:09.600 or I kill you. 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:10.432 - [Archimedes] I choose the circles. 00:11:10.432 --> 00:11:11.342 (Archimedes screams) 00:11:11.342 --> 00:11:12.990 (bell tolls) 00:11:12.990 --> 00:11:14.850 - [Narrator] Despite not securing Archimedes, 00:11:14.850 --> 00:11:18.330 by 210 BC, the Romans did secure Sicily 00:11:18.330 --> 00:11:20.730 and also put down a Carthage-supported rebellion 00:11:20.730 --> 00:11:22.409 on nearby Sardinia. 00:11:22.409 --> 00:11:24.240 Two Roman successes. 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:26.430 And there were more to come. 00:11:26.429 --> 00:11:29.429 After Cannae, King Philip the V of Macedon 00:11:29.429 --> 00:11:30.929 saw an opportunity. 00:11:30.929 --> 00:11:34.349 He was concerned with recent Roman expansion into Illyria, 00:11:34.350 --> 00:11:37.080 and so, when he saw Hannibal annihilating the Romans 00:11:37.080 --> 00:11:38.445 in Italy, he said... 00:11:38.445 --> 00:11:39.432 - [King Philip] Oh my gosh. 00:11:39.432 --> 00:11:40.264 Hey! 00:11:41.192 --> 00:11:42.360 Hey, Hannibal. 00:11:43.889 --> 00:11:45.659 Oh my gosh, you're so cool. 00:11:45.659 --> 00:11:46.620 Let's form an alliance 00:11:46.620 --> 00:11:48.779 and annihilate the Romans together. 00:11:48.779 --> 00:11:50.668 - [Hannibal] Eh, sure. 00:11:50.668 --> 00:11:52.797 - [King Philip] Yes. 00:11:52.797 --> 00:11:54.262 Yippee! 00:11:54.261 --> 00:11:55.349 (dolphin squeaking) 00:11:55.350 --> 00:11:57.570 - [Narrator] Hannibal hoped to secure Philip's help 00:11:57.570 --> 00:11:58.770 in fighting Rome, 00:11:58.769 --> 00:12:00.870 but a Roman army was sent to the region, 00:12:00.870 --> 00:12:03.240 stirred up Philip's other Greek opponents, 00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:05.639 and essentially kept Philip bogged down in Greece 00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:07.799 for the entire duration of the war. 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:10.919 Another, kind of, Roman success. 00:12:10.919 --> 00:12:12.779 But the main front Rome was hoping 00:12:12.779 --> 00:12:15.959 to push Carthage back in was Spain. 00:12:15.960 --> 00:12:17.820 The riches of Spain made it one 00:12:17.820 --> 00:12:20.070 of Carthage's most valuable possessions, 00:12:20.070 --> 00:12:22.980 and the Romans were eager to weaken it. 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:25.163 Remember, way back at the start of the war, 00:12:25.163 --> 00:12:27.960 the Consul Scipio was supposed to go to Spain, 00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:29.759 but ended up rushing back to Italy 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:32.700 when he realized Hannibal was crossing the Alps. 00:12:32.700 --> 00:12:34.710 He then faced Hannibal at Ticinus 00:12:34.710 --> 00:12:36.960 and had to be rescued by his son. 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:39.389 Well, after he recovered from his wounds, 00:12:39.389 --> 00:12:41.399 he proceeded with the original plan 00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:43.799 and joined his brother in Spain. 00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:47.250 There the two Scipio brothers fought a successful campaign 00:12:47.250 --> 00:12:49.830 against Hannibal's brother, Hasdrubal. 00:12:49.830 --> 00:12:53.430 Over the next few years, they won a number of key victories, 00:12:53.429 --> 00:12:55.079 even taking Saguntum, 00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:58.830 the city that had kickstarted this entire war. 00:12:58.830 --> 00:13:02.220 Yet more Roman success. 00:13:02.220 --> 00:13:04.740 A trend appeared to be emerging. 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:07.799 Whenever the Romans fought anyone other than Hannibal, 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:10.409 they usually came out on top. 00:13:10.409 --> 00:13:13.110 Perhaps these other fronts would be the key 00:13:13.110 --> 00:13:16.590 to Rome taking back control of this war. 00:13:16.590 --> 00:13:19.980 Perhaps it was time for Rome to return to their old ways 00:13:19.980 --> 00:13:22.379 of being the aggressive go-getters, 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:24.689 and perhaps it would help 00:13:24.690 --> 00:13:28.421 if Rome had a Hannibal of their own. 00:13:28.421 --> 00:13:33.421 (thunder roars) (dramatic music) 00:13:34.051 --> 00:13:36.570 Scipio the Younger was the son 00:13:36.570 --> 00:13:39.780 of Publius Scipio, currently fighting in Spain. 00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:40.636 This made him a member 00:13:40.636 --> 00:13:43.379 of one of Rome's most prestigious families. 00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:45.179 Not much is known of his childhood, 00:13:45.179 --> 00:13:46.979 although there is one story 00:13:46.980 --> 00:13:49.500 of how he was getting hot and heavy with a young lady, 00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:51.360 only to have his dad barge in 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:54.029 and drag him out, wearing nothing but a cloak. 00:13:54.029 --> 00:13:56.159 This story was written by a Roman poet 00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:57.899 to make Scipio look bad, 00:13:57.899 --> 00:13:59.250 but by modern standards, 00:13:59.250 --> 00:14:02.309 has ended up making him look pretty rad. 00:14:02.309 --> 00:14:05.069 My guess is if Rome had a high-school football team, 00:14:05.070 --> 00:14:07.062 Scipio would be the quarterback. 00:14:07.062 --> 00:14:07.894 (upbeat rock music) 00:14:07.894 --> 00:14:08.727 (people cheering) 00:14:08.727 --> 00:14:11.879 Scipio was only 18 when the Second Punic War broke out. 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:13.620 He was at the Battle of Ticinus, 00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:15.720 where he famously rescued his father, 00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:18.870 and he was one of the survivors of the Battle of Cannae, 00:14:18.870 --> 00:14:21.269 after which he threatened to cut down any man 00:14:21.269 --> 00:14:23.370 who dared abandon Rome. 00:14:23.370 --> 00:14:27.360 He was a natural leader and up to his ears in spunk. 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:28.590 And therefore, he rose 00:14:28.590 --> 00:14:31.470 through the Roman ranks shockingly fast. 00:14:31.470 --> 00:14:33.149 - [Roman 1] We need a new military Tribune, 00:14:33.149 --> 00:14:35.100 but Hannibal has killed so many men. 00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:36.486 We're running out of options. 00:14:36.486 --> 00:14:37.649 - [Scipio The Younger] Put me in, coach! 00:14:37.649 --> 00:14:39.569 - [Roman 1] Scipio? You're only 20. 00:14:39.570 --> 00:14:40.657 You can't be a Tribune. 00:14:40.657 --> 00:14:41.910 - [Scipio The Younger] Come on, coach. 00:14:41.909 --> 00:14:42.742 Put me in. 00:14:42.743 --> 00:14:45.360 - [Roman 1] Well, you do have a lot of spunk. 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:47.207 All right, you're hired. 00:14:47.207 --> 00:14:48.299 (Scipio the Younger cheers) 00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:49.949 We need to elect a new aedile. 00:14:49.950 --> 00:14:50.947 Who do we have left? 00:14:50.947 --> 00:14:52.259 - [Scipio The Younger] Put me in, coach! 00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:53.250 - Scipio! 00:14:53.250 --> 00:14:54.817 You don't meet the minimum age requirement. 00:14:54.817 --> 00:14:56.370 - [Scipio The Younger] I got this, coach. 00:14:56.370 --> 00:14:57.629 I got this. 00:14:57.629 --> 00:14:58.889 - [Roman 1] Well, okay, then. 00:14:58.889 --> 00:15:00.061 You're in! 00:15:00.061 --> 00:15:01.451 (Scipio the Younger cheers) 00:15:01.451 --> 00:15:04.110 - [Roman 1] Ugh, my room's a mess. I gotta cook dinner. 00:15:04.110 --> 00:15:05.550 Oh, and would you look at that? 00:15:05.549 --> 00:15:08.312 My fly's down. Life sucks. 00:15:10.267 --> 00:15:11.975 - [Scipio The Younger] Put me in, coach. 00:15:11.975 --> 00:15:15.120 - [Roman 1] Wow, you're so spunky. 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:17.279 - [Narrator] When Scipio was 25, however, 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:19.500 he received some bad news. 00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:21.539 His father and uncle in Spain 00:15:21.539 --> 00:15:23.699 had both been defeated in battle, 00:15:23.700 --> 00:15:26.940 and shockingly both of them were killed. 00:15:26.940 --> 00:15:30.810 The news must have been devastating for the young Scipio, 00:15:30.809 --> 00:15:33.539 but it was also devastating for Rome 00:15:33.539 --> 00:15:37.769 as almost all of their Spanish gains were wiped away. 00:15:37.769 --> 00:15:39.539 - [Fabius Maximus] Okay, listen up. 00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:42.750 We need someone to go and replace the Scipios in Spain. 00:15:42.750 --> 00:15:44.534 So who's up for it? 00:15:44.534 --> 00:15:45.569 (Romans murmuring) 00:15:45.570 --> 00:15:47.520 Come on. Who's gonna go? 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:49.919 - [Roman 2] Fabius, Spain seems unwinnable. 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:51.689 There's no glory to be had there. 00:15:51.690 --> 00:15:53.490 - [Roman 1] Yeah, the glory is here, 00:15:53.490 --> 00:15:55.680 defending the homeland from Hannibal. 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:57.879 - [Fabius Maximus] Well, somebody has to go. 00:15:59.909 --> 00:16:03.153 I said, well, somebody has to go! 00:16:04.186 --> 00:16:07.875 - [Scipio The Younger] Put me in, coach! 00:16:07.875 --> 00:16:09.360 - [Narrator] Scipio was eager to be the one 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:12.480 to go and replace his father and uncle in Spain. 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:16.409 However, there was concern amongst the older senators. 00:16:16.409 --> 00:16:17.789 - [Fabius Maximus] You are only 26. 00:16:17.789 --> 00:16:19.881 You can't lead a military campaign. 00:16:19.881 --> 00:16:20.714 - [Senators] He's right. 00:16:20.715 --> 00:16:21.548 Yeah, he's right. 00:16:21.548 --> 00:16:22.626 That's a good point. Yeah. 00:16:22.626 --> 00:16:24.089 - [Scipio The Younger] And you're 71, 00:16:24.090 --> 00:16:24.930 you can't stand up 00:16:24.929 --> 00:16:26.939 without a little urine dribbling down your leg. 00:16:26.940 --> 00:16:27.773 - [Senators] That's a good point. 00:16:27.773 --> 00:16:29.057 He's absolutely right. 00:16:29.057 --> 00:16:31.289 - [Narrator] Scipio didn't meet the typical requirements 00:16:31.289 --> 00:16:34.319 for the position, but as the only person willing to go, 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:36.810 this young piece of hot Roman meat 00:16:36.809 --> 00:16:38.969 was unanimously elected proconsul 00:16:38.970 --> 00:16:41.610 and sent to lead the Roman armies in Spain. 00:16:41.610 --> 00:16:43.470 He hoped to carry out a campaign 00:16:43.470 --> 00:16:46.590 as impressive as Hannibal's had been in Italy. 00:16:46.590 --> 00:16:50.910 In fact, Scipio rather admired the one-eyed general. 00:16:50.909 --> 00:16:54.187 - [Billy] Scipio, you've got a Hannibal poster in your room? 00:16:54.187 --> 00:16:55.019 - [Scipio The Younger] Yes. 00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:56.136 - [Billy] But he's the enemy. 00:16:56.136 --> 00:16:57.869 - [Scipio The Younger] I'll let you in on a secret, Billy. 00:16:57.870 --> 00:16:59.730 You know how we're gonna win this war? 00:16:59.730 --> 00:17:01.695 - [Billy] By marching straight at the enemy? 00:17:01.695 --> 00:17:03.690 - [Scipio The Younger] No, that's the old way. 00:17:03.690 --> 00:17:08.250 We've gotta be less Roman and a little more Hannibal. 00:17:08.250 --> 00:17:10.289 Hey, by the way, don't just barge into my room. 00:17:10.289 --> 00:17:12.029 That's an infringement of my privacy. 00:17:12.029 --> 00:17:13.410 - [Billy] Privacy. 00:17:13.410 --> 00:17:14.850 Privacy, you say? 00:17:14.849 --> 00:17:18.149 Well, Scipio, if it's privacy you want, 00:17:18.150 --> 00:17:23.150 then you, my friend, need NordVPN! 00:17:23.390 --> 00:17:24.223 - [Scipio The Younger] Don't touch me. 00:17:24.222 --> 00:17:25.056 - [Narrator] How would you like 00:17:25.056 --> 00:17:27.150 to be innocently downloading inspirational photos 00:17:27.150 --> 00:17:28.259 of Nicholas Cage, 00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:31.230 only to realize it's malware stealing your data 00:17:31.230 --> 00:17:33.420 and telling all your friends you still sleep 00:17:33.420 --> 00:17:37.080 between your parents because of scary dreams. 00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:39.029 Yeah, didn't think so. 00:17:39.029 --> 00:17:42.029 And that's why you need NordVPN. 00:17:42.029 --> 00:17:45.389 With a single click, NordVPN connects you to secure servers 00:17:45.390 --> 00:17:47.850 around the world, keeping you safe from malware 00:17:47.849 --> 00:17:49.769 and other online threats. 00:17:49.769 --> 00:17:52.769 Their Threat Protection Pro features go the extra mile 00:17:52.769 --> 00:17:54.750 in preventing your data being stolen 00:17:54.750 --> 00:17:56.789 by scanning your downloads for malware, 00:17:56.789 --> 00:17:58.440 blocking malicious websites, 00:17:58.440 --> 00:18:01.080 and even detecting fake online shops. 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:03.750 www.dolce&banana.com? 00:18:03.750 --> 00:18:05.069 I don't think so. 00:18:05.069 --> 00:18:06.480 But that's not all. 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:09.180 With NordVPN, you're not just protected, 00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:12.060 you can also unlock better deals in other regions 00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:15.269 and access content that isn't available in your country. 00:18:15.269 --> 00:18:17.639 So get protected today by heading 00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:21.270 to www.nordvpn.com/oversimplified, 00:18:21.269 --> 00:18:25.710 and grab an exclusive deal with four extra months for free. 00:18:25.710 --> 00:18:29.700 That's www.nordvpn.com/oversimplified. 00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:32.850 And as always, you'll be supporting my channel. 00:18:32.849 --> 00:18:33.812 So thank you. 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:36.242 Now, where were we? 00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:38.189 Oh yeah. 00:18:38.190 --> 00:18:39.779 Hannibal contained, 00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:42.869 a young piece of hot Roman meat sent 00:18:42.869 --> 00:18:45.243 to lead the Roman armies in Spain. 00:18:45.243 --> 00:18:46.076 (dramatic music) 00:18:46.076 --> 00:18:49.710 Scipio was charismatic, extremely confident, bold, 00:18:49.710 --> 00:18:51.809 and probably most importantly of all, 00:18:51.809 --> 00:18:54.450 he thought differently from other Roman generals. 00:18:54.450 --> 00:18:55.987 - [Billy] So, Skippy, what's the plan? 00:18:55.987 --> 00:18:56.820 - [Scipio The Younger] Don't call me that. 00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:58.230 - [Billy] We're Roman, so same thing 00:18:58.230 --> 00:18:59.279 as usual, right? 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:01.778 We march straight at the enemy, right? 00:19:01.778 --> 00:19:03.539 - [Scipio The Younger] Get this, Billy. 00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:05.666 No, we don't. 00:19:05.666 --> 00:19:07.109 - [Billy] What? 00:19:07.109 --> 00:19:09.959 - [Narrator] Scipio was a real outside-the-box thinker. 00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:12.630 There were three main Carthaginian armies in Spain, 00:19:12.630 --> 00:19:15.720 two led by Hannibal's brothers, Hasdrubal and Mago, 00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:18.000 and another led by Hasdrubal Gisco. 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:20.069 Most Roman generals might have looked at these armies 00:19:20.069 --> 00:19:21.899 and said, "I just gotta, you know, 00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:24.840 march straight at these guys and kick their ass and stuff." 00:19:24.839 --> 00:19:26.609 But not Scipio. 00:19:26.609 --> 00:19:30.059 At a time when many believed winning battles won wars, 00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:32.909 one of Scipio's greatest strengths was an ability 00:19:32.910 --> 00:19:36.029 to see the overall strategy behind his actions. 00:19:36.029 --> 00:19:39.029 He knew that Spain was the closest thing Hannibal had 00:19:39.029 --> 00:19:40.529 to a base of support. 00:19:40.529 --> 00:19:42.750 With its mass resources and manpower, 00:19:42.750 --> 00:19:44.430 it's where Hannibal likely hoped 00:19:44.430 --> 00:19:46.710 to get supplies and reinforcements from. 00:19:46.710 --> 00:19:50.670 Spain's base of support was the city of New Carthage, 00:19:50.670 --> 00:19:52.890 the most fortified city on the peninsula, 00:19:52.890 --> 00:19:55.020 perfectly positioned to communicate with 00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:57.329 and receive supplies from Africa. 00:19:57.329 --> 00:20:00.750 And so if Scipio managed to take New Carthage, 00:20:00.750 --> 00:20:02.309 he could take Spain. 00:20:02.309 --> 00:20:03.750 And if he took Spain, 00:20:03.750 --> 00:20:07.049 then maybe Hannibal would fall. 00:20:07.049 --> 00:20:10.319 To Scipio, Spain wasn't just some sideshow, 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:12.509 it was the main show 00:20:12.509 --> 00:20:15.960 and it all rested on New Carthage. 00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:19.680 But a surprise attack on Carthage's capital city in Spain? 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:22.230 It was a ridiculous idea. 00:20:22.230 --> 00:20:24.930 Even if you pull off the seven-day forced march, 00:20:24.930 --> 00:20:27.539 pass the Carthaginian armies to New Carthage, 00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:28.529 once you get there, 00:20:28.529 --> 00:20:30.779 you'd only have a couple weeks to take the city 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:33.779 before the Carthaginians arrived to kick your ass. 00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:37.170 Sieges of cities that fortified usually took months, 00:20:37.170 --> 00:20:38.700 if not years. 00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:41.910 So Scipio, how are you gonna pull this off? 00:20:41.910 --> 00:20:43.380 Well, first of all, 00:20:43.380 --> 00:20:45.720 to make sure the surprise plan stayed hidden, 00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:49.086 Scipio kept it a total secret, even from his own men. 00:20:49.086 --> 00:20:50.856 - [Billy] Where are we going, Skippy? 00:20:50.856 --> 00:20:51.990 - [Scipio The Younger] I'm not telling you. 00:20:51.990 --> 00:20:52.957 - [Billy] Is it Disneyland? 00:20:52.957 --> 00:20:54.690 - [Scipio The Younger] I'm not telling you. 00:20:54.690 --> 00:20:56.586 - [Billy] I think that means we're going to Disneyland. 00:20:56.586 --> 00:20:58.319 (soldiers giggling) 00:20:58.319 --> 00:21:00.210 - [Narrator] This secrecy kept the Carthaginians 00:21:00.210 --> 00:21:02.430 from preemptively reinforcing the city. 00:21:02.430 --> 00:21:05.670 As a result, New Carthage was left undergarrisoned 00:21:05.670 --> 00:21:07.410 because the Carthaginians believed it 00:21:07.410 --> 00:21:09.600 to be kind of naturally impenetrable. 00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:12.389 It was surrounded on three sides by a lagoon 00:21:12.390 --> 00:21:15.330 and only accessible via narrow isthmus. 00:21:15.329 --> 00:21:17.009 What's an isthmus, you ask? 00:21:17.009 --> 00:21:19.079 Maybe read a book. 00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:21.716 All right, Scipio, you made it to New Carthage. 00:21:21.717 --> 00:21:24.540 Now the other Carthaginian armies are only a 10-days march 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:26.579 from coming and kicking your ass. 00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:29.369 Just what were you thinking? 00:21:29.369 --> 00:21:32.819 Well, Scipio had learned something crucial. 00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:35.309 Every afternoon, the tides made the lagoon 00:21:35.309 --> 00:21:39.000 around New Carthage briefly shallow enough to cross. 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:42.210 So he ordered a large diversionary attack 00:21:42.210 --> 00:21:45.930 on the main city gates, distracting the city's defenders. 00:21:45.930 --> 00:21:49.710 Then a small infiltration force traversed the lagoon, 00:21:49.710 --> 00:21:53.880 climbed the unguarded northern walls, and entered the city. 00:21:53.880 --> 00:21:55.410 They ambushed the guards 00:21:55.410 --> 00:21:58.650 and opened the city gates to the rest of Scipio's army. 00:21:58.650 --> 00:22:00.300 And just like that, 00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:03.240 New Carthage had fallen 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:04.951 in a single day. 00:22:04.951 --> 00:22:08.579 Scipio had taken Carthage's capital city in Spain, 00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:10.980 and he made it look easy. 00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:13.860 With it, he seized much of Carthage's war supplies, 00:22:13.859 --> 00:22:15.899 several silver mines near the city, 00:22:15.900 --> 00:22:19.950 and various powerful Iberian tribes even joined his side. 00:22:19.950 --> 00:22:22.080 And now he was in a great position 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:25.349 to take on the other Carthaginian armies in Spain. 00:22:25.349 --> 00:22:28.266 - [Billy] Wow, Skippy, you are amazing. 00:22:28.267 --> 00:22:29.100 - [Scipio The Younger] Don't call me that. 00:22:29.099 --> 00:22:30.659 - [Billy] How'd you know the lagoon would get shallow? 00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:32.490 It's almost like you speak to the gods. 00:22:32.490 --> 00:22:34.230 - [Farmer] No, I told him. 00:22:34.230 --> 00:22:35.616 All the local farmers know about the- 00:22:35.616 --> 00:22:37.680 - [Scipio The Younger] Yes! That's it. 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:39.401 I speak to the gods! 00:22:39.401 --> 00:22:41.557 - [Billy] Wow! Wow! 00:22:41.557 --> 00:22:43.710 - [Narrator] Scipio had no problem allowing his men 00:22:43.710 --> 00:22:46.559 to think he was divinely inspired. 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:50.190 Roman writers also tell us another of Scipio's traits. 00:22:50.190 --> 00:22:52.890 He was apparently quite merciful in victory 00:22:52.890 --> 00:22:56.859 and often protected the inhabitants of captured cities. 00:22:56.858 --> 00:22:59.460 - [Scipio The Younger] Spencer, what are you doing? 00:22:59.460 --> 00:23:02.076 - [Spencer] Well, I was just about to murder this family. 00:23:02.076 --> 00:23:04.589 - [Scipio The Younger] Hey, bad Spencer! No! 00:23:04.589 --> 00:23:06.426 - [Spencer] Can I at least kill the dad? 00:23:06.426 --> 00:23:07.755 - [Scipio The Younger] No. 00:23:07.756 --> 00:23:09.240 - [Spencer] What about the- - [Scipio The Younger] No! 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:10.950 - [Spencer] Oh, you're mean. 00:23:10.950 --> 00:23:12.240 - [Narrator] The Carthaginian generals 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:14.130 in the region must have been shocked 00:23:14.130 --> 00:23:16.290 at the loss of their capital city. 00:23:16.289 --> 00:23:19.019 There was now a terminator in Spain, 00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:21.750 and he was coming. 00:23:21.750 --> 00:23:24.779 In 208 BC, he made a move on Hasdrubal, 00:23:24.779 --> 00:23:27.809 hoping to defeat him before the other Carthaginian armies 00:23:27.809 --> 00:23:29.220 could come and link up. 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:32.663 When Hasdrubal heard Scipio was coming, he said... 00:23:32.663 --> 00:23:34.200 (Hasdrubal screams) 00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:36.059 Hasdrubal did this sensible thing 00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:38.321 and climbed a big hill for safety. 00:23:38.321 --> 00:23:39.989 - [Scipio The Younger] Hey, get down here. 00:23:39.990 --> 00:23:41.009 I want to kill you! 00:23:41.009 --> 00:23:42.997 - [Hasdrubal] Fat chance, Vin Diesel. 00:23:42.997 --> 00:23:45.269 - [Scipio The Younger] Well, he doesn't have to be rude. 00:23:45.269 --> 00:23:46.980 - [Billy] So what's the plan then, Scipio? 00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:50.460 This time we march straight up and at 'em, right? 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:51.769 Right, Scipio? 00:23:51.769 --> 00:23:53.641 - [Scipio The Younger] Billy, no. 00:23:53.641 --> 00:23:55.050 - [Billy] What? 00:23:55.049 --> 00:23:56.609 - [Narrator] Scipio once again displayed 00:23:56.609 --> 00:23:59.009 a distinctly not-Roman approach to fighting. 00:23:59.009 --> 00:24:01.365 When, instead of marching straight up and at 'em, 00:24:01.365 --> 00:24:03.450 Scipio feigned a frontal skirmish, 00:24:03.450 --> 00:24:07.500 only to pull off a surprise uphill envelopment. 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:09.000 Not an easy thing to do, 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:11.970 but Scipio had trained his army to pull off maneuvers 00:24:11.970 --> 00:24:14.370 that typical Roman armies couldn't. 00:24:14.369 --> 00:24:17.489 After the battle, the defeated Hasdrubal fled Spain, 00:24:17.490 --> 00:24:20.880 hoping to link up with his brother Hannibal in Italy. 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:23.504 And Hannibal desperately needed the help. 00:24:23.503 --> 00:24:24.336 (tense music) 00:24:24.336 --> 00:24:26.579 As Scipio was dominating in Spain, 00:24:26.579 --> 00:24:29.970 Hannibal's struggles in Southern Italy continued. 00:24:29.970 --> 00:24:31.140 He was convinced that 00:24:31.140 --> 00:24:34.050 if he just received ample supplies and reinforcements, 00:24:34.049 --> 00:24:35.819 he could reverse his fortunes 00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:38.609 and get back to kicking Rome's ass. 00:24:38.609 --> 00:24:40.229 But for the remainder of the war, 00:24:40.230 --> 00:24:43.049 he would suffer a frustrating lack of support 00:24:43.049 --> 00:24:45.450 from the Carthaginian senate. 00:24:45.450 --> 00:24:48.509 After Cannae, Hannibal had sent his brother, Mago, 00:24:48.509 --> 00:24:51.869 to Carthage, where he famously poured out golden rings 00:24:51.869 --> 00:24:54.239 taken from fallen Roman knights. 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:57.120 He told the Senate that, with reinforcements, 00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:59.429 Hannibal could finish the job. 00:24:59.430 --> 00:25:01.529 But a growing faction in the Senate, 00:25:01.529 --> 00:25:04.259 possibly jealous of Hannibal's rising influence, 00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:06.660 opposed sending any help. 00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:09.660 In the end, a large number of the reinforcements gathered 00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:12.509 for Hannibal now ended up being diverted 00:25:12.509 --> 00:25:15.390 to stop Scipio in Spain. 00:25:15.390 --> 00:25:19.200 Just as he had hoped, Scipio's campaign in Spain 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:22.440 was actively harming Hannibal in Italy. 00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:24.779 However, those reinforcements meant 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:26.250 that when Scipio made a move 00:25:26.250 --> 00:25:28.799 on the remaining Carthaginian armies in Spain, 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:31.289 they now likely outnumbered him. 00:25:31.289 --> 00:25:33.359 With the odds heavily stacked against him, 00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:36.479 it would take some serious skill to win this battle. 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.980 - [Billy] This time we're gonna march straight 00:25:37.980 --> 00:25:38.813 at them, right? 00:25:38.813 --> 00:25:39.646 - [Scipio The Younger] No, Billy. 00:25:39.645 --> 00:25:41.129 - [Billy] What? 00:25:41.130 --> 00:25:42.960 - [Narrator] The preceding Battle of Ilipa 00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:45.690 is often considered Scipio's masterpiece 00:25:45.690 --> 00:25:47.820 because it was positively oozing 00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:50.309 with deception and trickery. 00:25:50.309 --> 00:25:53.700 First, both sides spent several days forming up 00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:56.670 and facing off without actually fighting. 00:25:56.670 --> 00:25:57.570 On each day, 00:25:57.569 --> 00:26:00.869 Scipio placed his strongest Roman legions in the center, 00:26:00.869 --> 00:26:03.959 with his weaker Iberian allies on the sides. 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:06.129 Seeing this, the Carthaginians were like... 00:26:06.128 --> 00:26:07.409 - [Carthaginian General] This guy's an idiot! 00:26:07.410 --> 00:26:08.700 We've seen his plan. 00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:11.370 His strongest troops are going to be in the center, 00:26:11.369 --> 00:26:13.469 so let's form all of our battle plans based 00:26:13.470 --> 00:26:14.850 on this information. 00:26:14.849 --> 00:26:17.279 I'm sure he won't change anything at the last minute. 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:19.289 - [Narrator] Then when the day of battle came, 00:26:19.289 --> 00:26:21.059 Scipio woke up the Carthaginians 00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:22.529 with an early morning attack, 00:26:22.529 --> 00:26:25.559 causing them to rush out of camp without breakfast. 00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:27.480 When the Carthaginians lined up 00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:30.750 with their strongest troops in the center to meet Scipio's, 00:26:30.750 --> 00:26:32.039 they were stunned to find 00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:35.099 that Scipio had completely reversed his order. 00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:37.169 The weaker Carthaginian sides 00:26:37.170 --> 00:26:40.560 now found Scipio's strongest bearing down on them. 00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:43.679 Then, in an extremely impressive maneuver, 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:46.560 the well-trained Roman wings even stretched out 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:47.789 during their approach, 00:26:47.789 --> 00:26:50.250 hitting the Carthaginians from the sides. 00:26:50.250 --> 00:26:53.069 The Carthaginian center could have turned to help, 00:26:53.069 --> 00:26:56.490 but Scipio had ordered his center to approach so slowly 00:26:56.490 --> 00:26:58.950 that Carthage's center could do nothing 00:26:58.950 --> 00:27:00.690 but just stand and wait. 00:27:00.690 --> 00:27:03.120 In this way, the outnumbered Scipio 00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:05.009 had cleverly controlled events 00:27:05.009 --> 00:27:08.160 so that the bulk of the strongest Carthaginian troops 00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:10.710 couldn't even fight during the battle. 00:27:10.710 --> 00:27:13.769 He had completely removed them from the equation. 00:27:13.769 --> 00:27:18.240 The incredible Scipio had inflicted a monumental defeat 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:20.849 on a much larger enemy force. 00:27:20.849 --> 00:27:24.449 And the Battle of Ilipa was the final nail in the coffin 00:27:24.450 --> 00:27:26.640 for Carthaginian Spain. 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:29.730 Yet more tribes people continued to side with the Romans, 00:27:29.730 --> 00:27:32.789 and the remaining Carthaginians retreated to the coast 00:27:32.789 --> 00:27:36.029 and eventually fled the peninsula. 00:27:36.029 --> 00:27:38.309 And would you look at that? 00:27:38.309 --> 00:27:39.809 In just a few years, 00:27:39.809 --> 00:27:44.809 the incredible young Scipio had turned Spain completely red. 00:27:44.970 --> 00:27:48.360 The Carthaginians must have been stunned. 00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:50.609 His Spanish campaign had almost been 00:27:50.609 --> 00:27:53.849 as impressive as Hannibal's campaign in Italy. 00:27:53.849 --> 00:27:56.789 In fact, see if any of this sounds familiar. 00:27:56.789 --> 00:27:59.399 In Spain, Scipio had used the environment 00:27:59.400 --> 00:28:01.530 of the battlefield to his advantage. 00:28:01.529 --> 00:28:04.170 He staged ambushes by concealed troops. 00:28:04.170 --> 00:28:06.269 He treated local tribes people well, 00:28:06.269 --> 00:28:07.829 earning their friendship. 00:28:07.829 --> 00:28:10.139 He even once forced his enemy to come out 00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:12.330 and fight him without breakfast. 00:28:12.329 --> 00:28:15.629 Each and every one of these tactics were possibly borrowed 00:28:15.630 --> 00:28:17.760 from a certain one-eyed general. 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:20.490 In all the battles Scipio had fought against Hannibal, 00:28:20.490 --> 00:28:23.670 it seemed he may have been taking notes. 00:28:23.670 --> 00:28:25.682 - [Hannibal] Hey, Scipio! 00:28:25.682 --> 00:28:26.516 - [Scipio The Younger] What? 00:28:26.516 --> 00:28:28.531 - [Hannibal] Stop stealing my tactics! 00:28:28.530 --> 00:28:31.530 - [Scipio The Younger] I'm 700 miles away. I can't hear you. 00:28:32.432 --> 00:28:34.191 - [Hannibal] What did you say? 00:28:34.191 --> 00:28:36.690 - [Scipio The Younger] What? 00:28:36.690 --> 00:28:37.523 - [Hannibal] What? 00:28:37.522 --> 00:28:39.269 - [Narrator] Better yet, Scipio's achievement 00:28:39.269 --> 00:28:41.369 in taking a well-fortified city, 00:28:41.369 --> 00:28:44.039 plus his understanding of the overall strategy, 00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:45.329 has led some historians 00:28:45.329 --> 00:28:48.389 to argue he wasn't just as good as Hannibal, 00:28:48.390 --> 00:28:51.540 Scipio may actually have been better. 00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:54.839 This young man, who many in Rome had doubted, 00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:59.220 had just shut those Silly Billies right the flip up. 00:28:59.220 --> 00:29:02.100 Mere years ago, it looked like Rome had no chance 00:29:02.099 --> 00:29:04.019 of even surviving this war. 00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:08.819 But now the momentum of war was shifting astonishingly fast. 00:29:08.819 --> 00:29:13.319 And for Hannibal in Italy, things continued to head south. 00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:15.480 Before Scipio had even gone to Spain, 00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:17.250 the Romans had placed Capua, 00:29:17.250 --> 00:29:20.940 Hannibal's largest city in Italy, under a dangerous siege. 00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:22.410 And in order to rescue it, 00:29:22.410 --> 00:29:25.920 Hannibal needed to take drastic action fast. 00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:28.470 - [Hannibal] Man, everything's falling apart. 00:29:28.470 --> 00:29:30.059 Ugh, fine. 00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:31.139 I'll do it. 00:29:31.140 --> 00:29:31.973 - [Soldier] Do what? 00:29:31.972 --> 00:29:33.750 - [Hannibal] Yeah, yeah. You've convinced me. 00:29:33.750 --> 00:29:35.579 I'll march on Rome. 00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:38.129 - [Soldier] Hannibal, that conversation was five years ago. 00:29:38.130 --> 00:29:39.030 It's too late. 00:29:39.029 --> 00:29:40.619 No one's trying to convince you to march on Rome. 00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:42.359 - [Hannibal] I said, I'll do it! 00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:44.309 Quit nagging me. Ugh. 00:29:44.309 --> 00:29:46.319 - [Narrator] Hannibal finally marched on Rome, 00:29:46.319 --> 00:29:49.049 hoping it might draw the Romans away from Capua. 00:29:49.049 --> 00:29:52.200 The Romans saw Hannibal approaching their city 00:29:52.200 --> 00:29:55.019 and they freaked the hell out. 00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:58.379 Hannibal is said to have closely approached the city walls, 00:29:58.380 --> 00:30:00.120 inspecting the defenses, 00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:03.329 as the Romans inside quivered in their togas. 00:30:03.329 --> 00:30:06.779 However, Hannibal probably knew he had no chance 00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:08.099 of taking the city. 00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:11.849 The whole thing was a feint, and Hannibal soon left. 00:30:11.849 --> 00:30:14.226 The Romans famously coined the phrase, 00:30:14.227 --> 00:30:16.140 "Hannibal is at the gates," 00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:19.830 to describe a moment of crisis or severe desperation. 00:30:19.829 --> 00:30:21.149 But for accuracy's sake, 00:30:21.150 --> 00:30:23.880 the phrase should probably be, "Hannibal is at the gates. 00:30:23.880 --> 00:30:25.500 But don't worry, it's just a feint 00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:26.957 to draw the Romans away from Capua. 00:30:26.957 --> 00:30:29.670 And it didn't even work because the Romans stayed at Capua 00:30:29.670 --> 00:30:31.890 and the Capuans misunderstood 00:30:31.890 --> 00:30:33.690 and thought Hannibal had abandoned them, 00:30:33.690 --> 00:30:36.177 and so they surrendered the city." 00:30:37.049 --> 00:30:39.389 But apparently that's not as catchy. 00:30:39.390 --> 00:30:41.100 Despite a few successes, 00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:43.319 including an ambush in 208 BC 00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:46.559 where Hannibal managed to kill both Consuls in one go, 00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:47.609 Hannibal was slowly 00:30:47.609 --> 00:30:51.269 but steadily losing his grip on Southern Italy. 00:30:51.269 --> 00:30:54.480 Even Hasdrubal, who had fled Spain to join Hannibal, 00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:56.220 never reached his brother. 00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:58.799 He made his own dramatic crossing of the Alps, 00:30:58.799 --> 00:31:00.299 just as Hannibal had done. 00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:03.299 But unlike Hannibal, the second Hasdrubal arrived in Italy, 00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:05.700 he was immediately pulverized. 00:31:05.700 --> 00:31:07.529 The Romans then took his head 00:31:07.529 --> 00:31:11.039 and threw it over the walls into his brother's camp. 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:14.552 Hannibal was becoming extremely isolated. 00:31:15.569 --> 00:31:18.096 After his impressive conquest of Spain, 00:31:18.096 --> 00:31:20.759 Scipio returned to Rome a hero. 00:31:20.759 --> 00:31:23.549 And when the election came for next year's Consuls, 00:31:23.549 --> 00:31:25.950 despite not meeting the typical requirements, 00:31:25.950 --> 00:31:28.500 Scipio won in a landslide. 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:32.130 But the question now was, what would he do next? 00:31:32.130 --> 00:31:34.470 - [Fabius Maximus] All right, what's your plan then, Scipio? 00:31:34.470 --> 00:31:36.423 You're gonna go fight Hannibal now, right? 00:31:36.423 --> 00:31:38.700 - [Scipio The Younger] Get this, Fabius. 00:31:38.700 --> 00:31:39.533 No. 00:31:39.532 --> 00:31:40.365 - [Senators] What? 00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:45.690 - [Narrator] Scipio's plan remained the same as before. 00:31:45.690 --> 00:31:47.910 Don't attack the monster directly, 00:31:47.910 --> 00:31:49.526 attack his base of support. 00:31:49.526 --> 00:31:50.359 - [Hannibal] Oof. 00:31:50.358 --> 00:31:53.369 - [Narrator] Which now happened to be Carthage itself. 00:31:53.369 --> 00:31:57.329 That's right. Scipio would invade Africa. 00:31:57.329 --> 00:32:01.349 However, Scipio understood that any invasion of Africa 00:32:01.349 --> 00:32:03.029 would stand a much better chance 00:32:03.029 --> 00:32:04.649 if he could secure an alliance 00:32:04.650 --> 00:32:06.720 with one of the African tribes. 00:32:06.720 --> 00:32:07.553 Throughout the war, 00:32:07.553 --> 00:32:10.320 Carthage's far superior Numidian cavalry, 00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:12.419 which came from this part of Africa, 00:32:12.420 --> 00:32:15.265 had played a critical role in winning battles. 00:32:15.265 --> 00:32:18.570 Numidia was divided between two rival kings. 00:32:18.569 --> 00:32:20.759 In the east, the king, Syphax, 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:23.309 had sympathized with Rome for much of the war. 00:32:23.309 --> 00:32:26.279 And so at some point, Scipio visited Syphax 00:32:26.279 --> 00:32:28.319 to ratify at treaty. 00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:30.029 It just so happened, however, 00:32:30.029 --> 00:32:32.700 that the Carthaginian general, Hasdrubal Gisco, 00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:34.680 whom Scipio had fought in Spain, 00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:37.410 also arrived at the exact same time. 00:32:37.410 --> 00:32:41.850 And so Syphax invited both Scipio and Gisco for a meal. 00:32:41.849 --> 00:32:44.639 The two men fought for Syphax's alliance. 00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:48.730 And by Roman accounts, Scipio was positively charming. 00:32:48.730 --> 00:32:49.980 - [Scipio The Younger] Come on, Syphax, 00:32:49.980 --> 00:32:51.210 stick with us Romans. 00:32:51.210 --> 00:32:53.009 We'll build a naked statue of you. 00:32:53.009 --> 00:32:54.599 - [Syphax] Very enticing. 00:32:54.599 --> 00:32:56.339 - [Gisco] If you join our side, Syphax, 00:32:56.339 --> 00:32:58.349 we'll give you a 2% discount on figs. 00:32:58.349 --> 00:33:00.209 You like figs, don't you? 00:33:00.210 --> 00:33:01.043 - [Syphax] Not really. 00:33:01.042 --> 00:33:01.949 - [Scipio The Younger] Hey, Syphax. 00:33:01.950 --> 00:33:02.883 Check this out. 00:33:04.349 --> 00:33:05.182 - [Syphax] Wow! 00:33:05.182 --> 00:33:07.600 - [Gisco] Hey, Syphax. Check this out. 00:33:07.601 --> 00:33:08.590 (body thuds) 00:33:08.589 --> 00:33:09.438 (plates clattering) 00:33:09.439 --> 00:33:10.272 (Gisco farts) 00:33:10.271 --> 00:33:11.441 - [Syphax] Did he just defecate? 00:33:11.441 --> 00:33:12.660 - [Scipio The Younger] I believe he did. 00:33:12.660 --> 00:33:13.920 - [Syphax] Well, Scipio, 00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:17.700 you clearly are the most charming man in the Mediterranean. 00:33:17.700 --> 00:33:20.067 My alliance is... 00:33:20.067 --> 00:33:21.390 - [Gisco] Syphax, I'll let you marry 00:33:21.390 --> 00:33:22.690 my extremely hot daughter. 00:33:24.119 --> 00:33:25.127 - [Syphax] Yours! 00:33:25.127 --> 00:33:26.369 Humminah humminah! 00:33:26.369 --> 00:33:28.769 - [Narrator] Unable to compete with Syphax's libido, 00:33:28.769 --> 00:33:31.829 Scipio instead, made contact with Syphax's rival, 00:33:31.829 --> 00:33:34.589 the other Numidian king, Masinissa, 00:33:34.589 --> 00:33:37.202 who was a longtime ally of Carthage. 00:33:37.202 --> 00:33:38.992 Scipio told Masinissa... 00:33:38.992 --> 00:33:40.259 - [Scipio The Younger] If you join the Romans, 00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:41.849 I'll help you defeat Syphax 00:33:41.849 --> 00:33:44.372 and become the ultimate Numidian king. 00:33:46.481 --> 00:33:49.440 - [Narrator] And so Masinissa was now on Team Rome. 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:50.940 Good job, Skippy. 00:33:50.940 --> 00:33:53.220 With a Numidian alliance solidified, 00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:56.370 Scipio prepared for his invasion of Africa. 00:33:56.369 --> 00:33:58.049 He raised a volunteer force 00:33:58.049 --> 00:34:01.230 that included many of the disgraced survivors from Cannae. 00:34:01.230 --> 00:34:02.823 And he set sail. 00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:06.629 - [Syphax] Well, Terry, any news from Italy? 00:34:06.630 --> 00:34:08.707 Has Hannibal won the war yet? 00:34:09.914 --> 00:34:13.673 Who on earth? 00:34:13.673 --> 00:34:17.384 - [Scipio The Younger] Here's Skippy! 00:34:17.384 --> 00:34:19.050 - [Terry] Oh my God! 00:34:20.610 --> 00:34:22.680 - [Narrator] The Roman landing sent a clear message 00:34:22.679 --> 00:34:24.269 to the Carthaginians. 00:34:24.269 --> 00:34:25.769 You don't invade us. 00:34:25.769 --> 00:34:26.699 No, no. 00:34:26.699 --> 00:34:28.799 We invade you. 00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:30.600 For the first time in the war, 00:34:30.599 --> 00:34:33.179 the Carthaginian homeland was under threat, 00:34:33.179 --> 00:34:37.949 and the Carthaginians needed to defeat Scipio at all costs. 00:34:37.949 --> 00:34:41.219 They gathered a huge army led by Hasdrubal Gisco, 00:34:41.219 --> 00:34:43.859 with allied Numidians led by Syphax, 00:34:43.860 --> 00:34:45.750 and they ordered them to get Scipio 00:34:45.750 --> 00:34:47.909 the hell off their continent. 00:34:47.909 --> 00:34:52.109 Sources say at this point, Scipio was severely outnumbered. 00:34:52.110 --> 00:34:54.840 - [Billy] Scipio, that army's huge! 00:34:54.840 --> 00:34:57.300 There's no way we can beat off all these men. 00:34:57.300 --> 00:34:59.586 How are we gonna beat off all these men? 00:34:59.586 --> 00:35:01.710 - [Scipio The Younger] Vigorously! 00:35:01.710 --> 00:35:04.230 And while maintaining eye contact. 00:35:04.230 --> 00:35:06.659 - [Narrator] As always, Scipio had a plan to deal 00:35:06.659 --> 00:35:08.609 with the larger enemy force. 00:35:08.610 --> 00:35:11.250 It just so happened that Syphax was offering 00:35:11.250 --> 00:35:12.599 to try and broker peace 00:35:12.599 --> 00:35:15.086 between the Romans and the Carthaginians. 00:35:15.086 --> 00:35:17.820 And Scipio smelled an opportunity. 00:35:17.820 --> 00:35:20.700 He sent a Roman envoy to Syphax's camp. 00:35:20.699 --> 00:35:23.129 And when they got there, Syphax was like... 00:35:23.130 --> 00:35:25.320 - [Syphax] Hey, guys, welcome to the enemy camp. 00:35:25.320 --> 00:35:27.180 Just before we begin negotiations, 00:35:27.179 --> 00:35:28.949 a small safety demonstration. 00:35:28.949 --> 00:35:30.809 As you can see, our huts are made 00:35:30.809 --> 00:35:33.750 of grass and reeds, very flammable. 00:35:33.750 --> 00:35:35.730 If there was even a single spark, 00:35:35.730 --> 00:35:37.949 this whole place would become a inferno 00:35:37.949 --> 00:35:40.952 and all my men would burn alive. 00:35:42.300 --> 00:35:43.289 - [Billy] Very interesting. 00:35:43.289 --> 00:35:44.969 - [Narrator] The Roman troops then reported back 00:35:44.969 --> 00:35:48.299 to Scipio about the Numidian camp, its construction, 00:35:48.300 --> 00:35:51.480 and, most importantly, its flammability. 00:35:51.480 --> 00:35:53.460 Then, the following night, 00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:57.480 as the sun was setting over the beautiful African plains 00:35:57.480 --> 00:36:00.599 and the Carthaginians got all comfy in their beds, 00:36:00.599 --> 00:36:04.380 they began to gently dream of Carthaginian figs 00:36:04.380 --> 00:36:06.539 and child sacrifice. 00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:08.550 Goodnight, Carthaginians. 00:36:08.550 --> 00:36:09.950 Goodnight, Syphax and Gisco. 00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:14.460 Good evening, Scipio. 00:36:14.460 --> 00:36:16.920 In the night shadowy Roman figures 00:36:16.920 --> 00:36:19.139 approached the Numidian camp. 00:36:19.139 --> 00:36:21.389 As the Numidians lay in their beds, 00:36:21.389 --> 00:36:24.032 Scipio executed his plan. 00:36:25.880 --> 00:36:27.359 (fire whooshing) 00:36:27.360 --> 00:36:30.000 The camp erupted into flames. 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:31.980 With the flammable wooden huts, 00:36:31.980 --> 00:36:35.219 the fires spread terrifyingly fast. 00:36:35.219 --> 00:36:37.859 Men were burned in their beds. 00:36:37.860 --> 00:36:40.680 Those who awoke in a panic believing the fire 00:36:40.679 --> 00:36:43.139 to have been some kind of terrible accident, 00:36:43.139 --> 00:36:46.679 rushed to the exits without their weapons and armor. 00:36:46.679 --> 00:36:49.169 Those who saw the fire from the Carthaginian camp 00:36:49.170 --> 00:36:51.300 also rushed out unarmed. 00:36:51.300 --> 00:36:55.260 And when they got there, there he was, 00:36:55.260 --> 00:36:58.969 Scipio, the Romans, and their steel. 00:36:58.969 --> 00:37:01.719 (dramatic music) 00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:09.929 The terrified Carthaginians were massacred. 00:37:09.929 --> 00:37:11.819 And with heavy casualties, 00:37:11.820 --> 00:37:16.260 Hasdrubal and Syphax fled the scene of the disaster. 00:37:16.260 --> 00:37:18.900 Scipio followed this incredible success 00:37:18.900 --> 00:37:20.760 with another victory against the pair 00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:22.890 at the Battle of the Great Plains. 00:37:22.889 --> 00:37:26.069 After that, Masinissa chased his rival Syphax 00:37:26.070 --> 00:37:29.640 into his kingdom where Syphax was captured. 00:37:29.639 --> 00:37:33.900 Masinissa was now the ultimate Numidian king. 00:37:33.900 --> 00:37:36.000 He entered Syphax's capital city. 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:38.369 He seized Syphax's palace. 00:37:38.369 --> 00:37:41.159 He even married Syphax's wife. 00:37:41.159 --> 00:37:42.719 And when Scipio got mad at him 00:37:42.719 --> 00:37:44.519 for marrying a Carthaginian girl, 00:37:44.519 --> 00:37:46.710 he then poisoned his wife. 00:37:46.710 --> 00:37:48.929 Boys will be boys. 00:37:48.929 --> 00:37:51.509 Having defeated the Carthaginian armies in Africa, 00:37:51.510 --> 00:37:55.230 almost nothing now stood between Scipio and Carthage. 00:37:55.230 --> 00:37:58.346 And the Carthaginians were freaking out. 00:37:58.346 --> 00:37:59.871 - [Carthaginian] What do we do? What do we do? 00:37:59.871 --> 00:38:02.490 - [Carthaginian General] There's only one thing left to do. 00:38:02.489 --> 00:38:04.862 Recall him. 00:38:06.809 --> 00:38:08.969 - [Gerald] Well, Hannibal, you've been here in Italy 00:38:08.969 --> 00:38:10.349 for 16 years. 00:38:10.349 --> 00:38:12.059 This is practically your home. 00:38:12.059 --> 00:38:13.590 You're basically Italian. 00:38:13.590 --> 00:38:14.550 - [Hannibal] Yes, Gerald. 00:38:14.550 --> 00:38:16.470 And I've had such a lovely time. 00:38:16.469 --> 00:38:17.639 I ate spaghetti, 00:38:17.639 --> 00:38:19.379 did-a this-a with-a my hands. 00:38:19.380 --> 00:38:21.690 I've committed my whole life to this campaign. 00:38:21.690 --> 00:38:25.650 And once Rome has fallen, it'll all have been worth it. 00:38:25.650 --> 00:38:27.599 - [Carthaginian] Hannibal, you have to return to Carthage. 00:38:27.599 --> 00:38:29.519 Your Italian campaign has been for nothing. 00:38:29.519 --> 00:38:32.369 Your whole life has been a waste. 00:38:32.369 --> 00:38:33.202 - [Hannibal] No! 00:38:34.829 --> 00:38:37.380 - [Narrator] Imagine being Hannibal in this moment. 00:38:37.380 --> 00:38:39.720 You left Carthage when you were nine. 00:38:39.719 --> 00:38:42.569 You probably barely even recognize your own homeland. 00:38:42.570 --> 00:38:46.110 The kingdom he had built in Spain with his father, gone. 00:38:46.110 --> 00:38:48.090 And now his Italian campaign, 00:38:48.090 --> 00:38:51.811 his vengeance, was it really all for nothing? 00:38:51.811 --> 00:38:52.644 (melancholy music) 00:38:52.643 --> 00:38:54.389 But that was that. 00:38:54.389 --> 00:38:56.009 Carthage was under threat, 00:38:56.010 --> 00:38:58.920 and Hannibal had to protect his home city. 00:38:58.920 --> 00:39:03.150 As he left Italy, in Rome there was celebration, 00:39:03.150 --> 00:39:05.340 but also some trepidation. 00:39:05.340 --> 00:39:08.820 Now Scipio would have to face Hannibal in Africa, 00:39:08.820 --> 00:39:11.820 where Hannibal would have home advantage. 00:39:11.820 --> 00:39:13.440 While Hannibal was on his way, 00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:15.443 the Carthaginians stalled for time 00:39:15.443 --> 00:39:17.616 and approached Scipio for peace talks. 00:39:17.617 --> 00:39:20.370 - [Carthaginian General] Hey, look, we never meant 00:39:20.369 --> 00:39:22.545 to start an all-out two-decade-long war. 00:39:22.545 --> 00:39:23.378 - [Scipio The Younger] But you did. 00:39:23.378 --> 00:39:25.470 - [Carthaginian General] No, that was Hannibal. 00:39:25.469 --> 00:39:27.462 He's to blame for all of this. 00:39:27.463 --> 00:39:28.710 - [Scipio The Younger] Well, all right then. 00:39:28.710 --> 00:39:29.706 Sign this peace treaty. 00:39:29.706 --> 00:39:32.759 - [Carthaginian General] Okay. 00:39:32.760 --> 00:39:36.810 Let me just get my signature right on there. 00:39:36.809 --> 00:39:37.822 - [Carthaginian] He's here! 00:39:37.822 --> 00:39:38.970 - [Carthaginian General] Yes. 00:39:38.969 --> 00:39:42.119 Oh, look who's here, you bald prick! 00:39:42.119 --> 00:39:45.893 You are so dead now, Skippy! 00:39:45.893 --> 00:39:50.009 - [Scipio The Younger] Don't call me that! 00:39:50.010 --> 00:39:51.900 - [Narrator] After Carthage proposed peace, 00:39:51.900 --> 00:39:53.519 only to then go back on it, 00:39:53.519 --> 00:39:56.880 the normally merciful Scipio was enraged. 00:39:56.880 --> 00:39:59.490 He began refusing to accept towns' surrender, 00:39:59.489 --> 00:40:03.059 and instead began burning everything to the ground, 00:40:03.059 --> 00:40:05.699 selling everyone into slavery. 00:40:05.699 --> 00:40:07.949 - [Carthaginian] Hannibal, he's burning our towns. 00:40:07.949 --> 00:40:09.000 Go stop him. 00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:10.469 - [Hannibal] Guys, he's obviously trying 00:40:10.469 --> 00:40:12.719 to lure me out there to fight on those flat plains 00:40:12.719 --> 00:40:15.269 where his Numidian cavalry will give him the advantage. 00:40:15.269 --> 00:40:16.199 It's a trick. 00:40:16.199 --> 00:40:18.096 - [Carthaginian] Well, it's working. 00:40:18.096 --> 00:40:19.320 Go and fight him. 00:40:19.320 --> 00:40:20.970 - [Hannibal] It's obviously a trap. 00:40:20.969 --> 00:40:22.529 - [Carthaginian] And we're falling for it. 00:40:22.530 --> 00:40:23.880 Go and fight him! 00:40:23.880 --> 00:40:24.750 - [Narrator] Hannibal set out 00:40:24.750 --> 00:40:27.360 to meet Scipio in the Western Plains. 00:40:27.360 --> 00:40:30.599 And here came Scipio's final test. 00:40:30.599 --> 00:40:34.079 Finally, the teacher would face the student, 00:40:34.079 --> 00:40:36.480 the two greatest generals of all time 00:40:36.480 --> 00:40:39.780 in one last decisive battle. 00:40:39.780 --> 00:40:42.750 Would Hannibal's genius still shine through? 00:40:42.750 --> 00:40:44.010 Or would Scipio prove 00:40:44.010 --> 00:40:47.250 that he had surpassed the master? 00:40:47.250 --> 00:40:49.650 Before battle, the two great generals rode out 00:40:49.650 --> 00:40:52.807 from their camps and met in person for the first time. 00:40:52.806 --> 00:40:55.889 - [Scipio The Younger] Hannibal, I'm a huge fan. 00:40:55.889 --> 00:40:56.976 - [Hannibal] I thought you'd have more hair. 00:40:56.976 --> 00:40:59.279 - [Scipio The Younger] And I thought you'd have more eyes. 00:40:59.280 --> 00:41:00.150 - [Hannibal] Touche. 00:41:00.150 --> 00:41:01.530 - [Narrator] They then had a conversation, 00:41:01.530 --> 00:41:02.970 which I'll paraphrase. 00:41:02.969 --> 00:41:05.069 Hannibal said, "At the start of this war, 00:41:05.070 --> 00:41:07.050 I had great fortune in Italy. 00:41:07.050 --> 00:41:08.340 But look at me now, 00:41:08.340 --> 00:41:11.400 a sad old man who, like other sad old men, 00:41:11.400 --> 00:41:13.079 failed to conquer Rome. 00:41:13.079 --> 00:41:15.929 Your fortune can change rapidly, Scipio. 00:41:15.929 --> 00:41:18.029 You should consider negotiating a peace, 00:41:18.030 --> 00:41:21.840 rather than risking it all in one last fight against me." 00:41:21.840 --> 00:41:23.899 Very eloquently put. 00:41:23.898 --> 00:41:27.449 Scipio then replied, "(bleeps) you! 00:41:27.449 --> 00:41:30.179 Negotiate? Negotiate what? 00:41:30.179 --> 00:41:31.589 I took Spain. 00:41:31.590 --> 00:41:34.559 I'm about to burn your pathetic city to the ground. 00:41:34.559 --> 00:41:37.230 What could you offer me in negotiations? 00:41:37.230 --> 00:41:39.047 I already have it all. 00:41:39.047 --> 00:41:42.539 Ah! 00:41:42.539 --> 00:41:43.409 Seriously though, Hannibal, 00:41:43.409 --> 00:41:44.609 I am such a big fan." 00:41:44.610 --> 00:41:46.410 And so it was settled. 00:41:46.409 --> 00:41:49.769 The two great generals would face off one last time 00:41:49.769 --> 00:41:53.639 in the epic Battle of Zama. 00:41:53.639 --> 00:41:54.989 Scipio gave his men, 00:41:54.989 --> 00:41:57.569 consisting of many survivors from Cannae, 00:41:57.570 --> 00:41:58.980 a pre-battle speech, 00:41:58.980 --> 00:42:01.650 telling them not only would they gain redemption, 00:42:01.650 --> 00:42:04.829 but they could become masters of the world. 00:42:04.829 --> 00:42:07.409 Hannibal told his men probably nothing 00:42:07.409 --> 00:42:10.139 because most of them didn't even speak the same language. 00:42:10.139 --> 00:42:12.539 As the two armies lined up for battle, 00:42:12.539 --> 00:42:15.239 something interesting became clear. 00:42:15.239 --> 00:42:16.919 Hannibal had more infantry 00:42:16.920 --> 00:42:20.250 and hoped to use them to brute strength the Romans. 00:42:20.250 --> 00:42:23.219 But Scipio had the nimble Numidian cavalry 00:42:23.219 --> 00:42:25.379 and hoped to pull off an envelopment. 00:42:25.380 --> 00:42:29.070 It was a complete roll reversal of Cannae. 00:42:29.070 --> 00:42:33.300 As the battle began, Hannibal made his first move. 00:42:33.300 --> 00:42:35.130 He sent his 80 war elephants 00:42:35.130 --> 00:42:38.369 to smash through and weaken the Roman infantry. 00:42:38.369 --> 00:42:41.400 Scipio had the perfect response. 00:42:41.400 --> 00:42:43.139 He had altered his formation 00:42:43.139 --> 00:42:46.139 to create passages between the Roman maniples. 00:42:46.139 --> 00:42:48.659 His light troops stepped aside at the right moment, 00:42:48.659 --> 00:42:51.899 revealing the gaps ahead of the charging elephants. 00:42:51.900 --> 00:42:53.760 Elephants, if given the choice 00:42:53.760 --> 00:42:56.160 between a suicide charge into spears 00:42:56.159 --> 00:42:57.839 or a nice clean escape, 00:42:57.840 --> 00:42:59.760 will probably choose the escape. 00:42:59.760 --> 00:43:01.440 And that's what happened. 00:43:01.440 --> 00:43:04.110 Some elephants were so frightened from the noise 00:43:04.110 --> 00:43:05.370 that they even turned 00:43:05.369 --> 00:43:08.219 and smashed back into the Carthaginian cavalry, 00:43:08.219 --> 00:43:11.099 which the Roman cavalry then engaged. 00:43:11.099 --> 00:43:13.230 Your move, Hannibal. 00:43:13.230 --> 00:43:15.269 Hannibal wasn't an idiot. 00:43:15.269 --> 00:43:18.420 He knew that he was fighting superior Numidian cavalry 00:43:18.420 --> 00:43:19.800 on open plains. 00:43:19.800 --> 00:43:22.440 So when his weaker cavalry ended up being routed 00:43:22.440 --> 00:43:25.590 from the battlefield, he probably wasn't surprised 00:43:25.590 --> 00:43:27.720 and hoped the Roman cavalry would be lured 00:43:27.719 --> 00:43:30.000 as far from the battlefield as possible 00:43:30.000 --> 00:43:35.000 because his infantry needed time to do a clever little job. 00:43:35.369 --> 00:43:37.710 Hannibal had the numerical advantage, 00:43:37.710 --> 00:43:40.710 and he had positioned his army in three lines. 00:43:40.710 --> 00:43:44.159 The weaker troops were at the front while his best men, 00:43:44.159 --> 00:43:47.339 the army that had been with him in Italy, were in the rear. 00:43:47.340 --> 00:43:50.190 As the Romans smashed into the weaker front lines, 00:43:50.190 --> 00:43:51.840 they managed to cut through them, 00:43:51.840 --> 00:43:55.320 but suffered losses and exhaustion in doing so. 00:43:55.320 --> 00:43:57.539 The same with Hannibal's second line, 00:43:57.539 --> 00:43:58.559 so that by the time 00:43:58.559 --> 00:44:01.230 the Romans reached Hannibal's superior third line, 00:44:01.230 --> 00:44:04.409 the two sides may have now been about equal in number. 00:44:04.409 --> 00:44:06.629 But the exhausted Romans 00:44:06.630 --> 00:44:09.390 had just fought an entire battle to get there 00:44:09.389 --> 00:44:12.420 while the remaining Carthaginians were fresh 00:44:12.420 --> 00:44:14.099 and ready to go. 00:44:14.099 --> 00:44:16.860 Hannibal was still a genius. 00:44:16.860 --> 00:44:19.890 And this is where the final race began. 00:44:19.889 --> 00:44:23.159 Could Hannibal's stronger infantry finish off the Romans 00:44:23.159 --> 00:44:26.369 before the Roman cavalry returned from their pursuit? 00:44:26.369 --> 00:44:28.319 Who would be quicker, 00:44:28.320 --> 00:44:32.190 the Carthaginian infantry or the Roman cavalry? 00:44:32.190 --> 00:44:33.023 The answer: 00:44:34.949 --> 00:44:36.329 the cavalry. 00:44:36.329 --> 00:44:38.880 They had called off their pursuit just in time 00:44:38.880 --> 00:44:42.269 to turn around and hit Hannibal from the rear. 00:44:42.269 --> 00:44:45.119 And that was the deciding move. 00:44:45.119 --> 00:44:48.569 As the sandwiched Carthaginians were hacked to pieces, 00:44:48.570 --> 00:44:52.920 Hannibal knew he had lost and he escaped the battlefield. 00:44:52.920 --> 00:44:55.230 It was a battle that some historians say 00:44:55.230 --> 00:44:57.659 was well fought on both sides. 00:44:57.659 --> 00:44:59.759 Both showed their genius, 00:44:59.760 --> 00:45:03.660 but fortune fell in the favor of Scipio. 00:45:03.659 --> 00:45:06.389 With just a few thousand Roman casualties 00:45:06.389 --> 00:45:09.500 compared to 40,000 Carthaginians, 00:45:09.501 --> 00:45:11.685 Scipio had won. 00:45:11.684 --> 00:45:12.960 (ominous music) 00:45:12.960 --> 00:45:15.449 Hannibal advised the Carthaginian senate 00:45:15.449 --> 00:45:18.119 that it was time to surrender. 00:45:18.119 --> 00:45:21.873 17 years of war finally over. 00:45:22.739 --> 00:45:26.039 The terms Rome placed on Carthage were harsh. 00:45:26.039 --> 00:45:27.300 They lost territory 00:45:27.300 --> 00:45:30.570 and were prohibited from starting any more wars with anyone 00:45:30.570 --> 00:45:32.970 without Rome's explicit permission. 00:45:32.969 --> 00:45:36.839 Carthage basically became a weak Roman client state. 00:45:36.840 --> 00:45:39.720 And what of these two military geniuses? 00:45:39.719 --> 00:45:43.619 Well, Scipio returned to Rome triumphant. 00:45:43.619 --> 00:45:45.420 For his victory in Africa, 00:45:45.420 --> 00:45:49.170 he was given the title Scipio Africanus. 00:45:49.170 --> 00:45:52.740 He had delivered Rome from an existential threat. 00:45:52.739 --> 00:45:54.599 And so from here on out, 00:45:54.599 --> 00:45:57.599 he was primed to dominate Roman politics. 00:45:57.599 --> 00:46:00.569 He was even offered to become Consul for Life, 00:46:00.570 --> 00:46:02.610 but he humbly refused. 00:46:02.610 --> 00:46:06.690 Politics being what it is however, jealousy eventually grew. 00:46:06.690 --> 00:46:09.630 Scipio and his family ended up battling accusations 00:46:09.630 --> 00:46:11.550 of corruption and Scipio, 00:46:11.550 --> 00:46:14.039 possibly becoming tired of Roman politics, 00:46:14.039 --> 00:46:18.090 retired to a nice country house by the coast. 00:46:18.090 --> 00:46:20.010 Hannibal also took a leading role 00:46:20.010 --> 00:46:22.590 in Carthaginian politics after the war. 00:46:22.590 --> 00:46:25.740 But again, due to jealousy, factionalism, 00:46:25.739 --> 00:46:28.319 and a possibility of arrest by the Romans, 00:46:28.320 --> 00:46:30.660 he eventually entered exile. 00:46:30.659 --> 00:46:33.659 He spent the remainder of his years out east, 00:46:33.659 --> 00:46:36.029 even advising enemies of Rome. 00:46:36.030 --> 00:46:38.400 Rome's hatred of Hannibal endured 00:46:38.400 --> 00:46:39.630 and they never stopped hoping 00:46:39.630 --> 00:46:42.570 to someday capture the monster. 00:46:42.570 --> 00:46:44.160 One story is told of how, 00:46:44.159 --> 00:46:46.259 when a much older Hannibal was chilling 00:46:46.260 --> 00:46:47.850 in the city of Ephesus, 00:46:47.849 --> 00:46:50.159 a Roman delegation was sent to the city. 00:46:50.159 --> 00:46:54.179 And in that delegation was Scipio Africanus. 00:46:54.179 --> 00:46:56.789 The two men met for the second time, 00:46:56.789 --> 00:46:59.429 and they seem to have gotten along quite well. 00:46:59.429 --> 00:47:00.839 Scipio asked Hannibal 00:47:00.840 --> 00:47:04.350 who he thought the three greatest generals of all time were. 00:47:04.349 --> 00:47:07.409 Hannibal placed Alexander the Great in number one, 00:47:07.409 --> 00:47:09.659 Pyrrhus of Epirus in number two, 00:47:09.659 --> 00:47:12.239 and in third place, himself. 00:47:12.239 --> 00:47:13.536 Scipio then asked, 00:47:13.536 --> 00:47:16.596 "And what if you had defeated me at Zama?" 00:47:16.597 --> 00:47:20.850 "Well, Scipio, then I would have been the greatest general 00:47:20.849 --> 00:47:22.460 of all time." 00:47:22.460 --> 00:47:25.230 - [Scipio The Younger] Please, call me Skippy. 00:47:25.231 --> 00:47:26.940 (generals giggling) 00:47:26.940 --> 00:47:29.789 - [Narrator] Eventually around 183 BC, 00:47:29.789 --> 00:47:31.860 Hannibal, now in his 60s, 00:47:31.860 --> 00:47:34.200 came under threat of Roman capture. 00:47:34.199 --> 00:47:38.489 After a long life, he chose to take some poison. 00:47:38.489 --> 00:47:41.196 According to Livy, his last words, 00:47:41.197 --> 00:47:44.309 "Let us now relieve the Romans of the anxiety 00:47:44.309 --> 00:47:46.139 they have so long experienced 00:47:46.139 --> 00:47:48.809 since they think it tries their patience too much 00:47:48.809 --> 00:47:51.809 to wait for an old man's death." 00:47:51.809 --> 00:47:54.962 - [Servant] Wow, Hannibal, what a dignified end. 00:47:57.119 --> 00:47:57.952 Gross. 00:47:57.952 --> 00:47:59.039 - [Narrator] And there you have it. 00:47:59.039 --> 00:48:02.309 The Second Punic War, finally done. 00:48:02.309 --> 00:48:04.829 It took 17 years to end the war. 00:48:04.829 --> 00:48:06.119 And on a personal note, 00:48:06.119 --> 00:48:10.230 making these videos has also taken 17 years off my life. 00:48:10.230 --> 00:48:13.469 Carthage began to recover from the war shockingly fast, 00:48:13.469 --> 00:48:18.059 however, and anxieties over Carthage would remain in Rome. 00:48:18.059 --> 00:48:21.360 In particular, one Senator would begin calling 00:48:21.360 --> 00:48:24.720 for one last crusade against Carthage 00:48:24.719 --> 00:48:27.929 to end the threat once and for all. 00:48:27.929 --> 00:48:31.079 He famously began to end all of his speeches 00:48:31.079 --> 00:48:33.480 with one singular phrase, 00:48:33.480 --> 00:48:38.016 one of the most famous phrases in Roman history. 00:48:38.016 --> 00:48:40.766 (dramatic music)