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EnglandAncient History

Hannibal and the Second Punic War, 218 to 201 BC

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How did Hannibal win his masterpiece at Cannae, and why could he not win the war in Italy?

The Battle of Cannae in 216 BC and Hannibal's double envelopment, the crisis it caused for Rome, the Fabian strategy of delay, and why Hannibal could not capture Rome or win the war in Italy despite his victories, studied through Polybius and Livy.
An OCR GCSE Ancient History answer on the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC and the war in Italy, covering Hannibal's double envelopment, the crisis it caused for Rome, the Fabian strategy of delay, and why Hannibal could not capture Rome or win the war despite his victories, studied through Polybius and Livy.
15 min answer →

How did Hannibal bring war to Italy, and why were his early victories so devastating?

Hannibal's march from Spain and the crossing of the Alps in 218 BC, the use of war elephants and the hardships of the crossing, and his first great victories at the Trebia and Lake Trasimene, studied through Polybius and Livy.
An OCR GCSE Ancient History answer on Hannibal's invasion of Italy, covering the march from Spain and the crossing of the Alps in 218 BC, the war elephants and the hardships of the crossing, and his first great victories at the Trebia and Lake Trasimene, studied through Polybius and Livy.
14 min answer →

How did Rome turn the war around and finally defeat Hannibal at Zama?

The Roman recovery and the defeat of Hannibal: Scipio's campaigns in Spain and his invasion of Africa, the recall of Hannibal from Italy, the Battle of Zama in 202 BC, the peace terms of 201 BC, and why Rome eventually won, studied through Polybius and Livy.
An OCR GCSE Ancient History answer on the Roman recovery and the defeat of Hannibal, covering Scipio's campaigns in Spain and his invasion of Africa, the recall of Hannibal from Italy, the Battle of Zama in 202 BC, the peace terms of 201 BC, and why Rome eventually won the Second Punic War, studied through Polybius and Livy.
14 min answer →

Why did war break out again between Rome and Carthage in 218 BC, and who was to blame?

The causes of the Second Punic War: the legacy of the First Punic War and the loss of Sicily and Sardinia, Carthaginian expansion in Spain under the Barcids, the siege of Saguntum, and the debate over whether Rome or Carthage was responsible, studied through Polybius and Livy.
An OCR GCSE Ancient History answer on the causes of the Second Punic War, covering the legacy of the First Punic War and the loss of Sicily and Sardinia, Carthaginian expansion in Spain under the Barcids, the siege of Saguntum and the outbreak of war in 218 BC, and the debate over whether Rome or Carthage was responsible, studied through Polybius and Livy.
14 min answer →

What are the prescribed sources for the Second Punic War, and how do you weigh Polybius against Livy?

The prescribed sources for the Hannibal depth study: Polybius as the careful near-contemporary Greek historian (and his Scipionic connections), Livy as the later, fuller and more dramatic Roman narrative, and how to weigh a near-contemporary analytical source against a later patriotic one.
An OCR GCSE Ancient History guide to the prescribed sources for the Hannibal and the Second Punic War depth study, explaining how to use Polybius as the careful near-contemporary Greek historian (and his Scipionic connections), Livy as the later, fuller and more dramatic Roman narrative, and how to weigh a near-contemporary analytical source against a later patriotic one.
14 min answer →