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The Second Punic War, CCXVIII B. C. - PrologusIberia CCXIX B. C., the river Iberus marked the boundary between two civilisations, with romans to the north and the carthaginians to the south. The exception was Saguntum, it lay in carthaginian land, but under the terms of a treaty was regarded as an independent city under roman protection. When the inhabitants entered into skirmishes with local tribes, the carthaginian leader Hannibal took the opportunity to raise tensions. He laid a successful eight-month siege to the city and when it fell to him Rome demanded Hannibal to be handed over for this outrage. Carthage refused, beginning the second punic war in CCXVIII B. C.It would be ancient history's clash of the titans. The romans had more soldiers, but Carthage was bigger and, despite having lost wealth and territory to Rome in the first punic war, was in a better financial position to conduct a long campaign. Whoever won would rule huge swathes of the european continent and control mediterranean trade... ... Absolutely... |