No Hannibal

The Second Punic War will be fought much as the first was, with a Punic invasion of Sicily and a Roman march through Narbonese Gaul. Battles occur in the main theatres, with Hasdrubal Barca's forces humiliating the legions numerous times, but eventually, strategic depth is made to count and Rome pushes the Carthaginians out of Sicily and Spain. The peace forces them to cede all of Spain and accept a strong Numidian kingdom in North Africa, but leaves the city and its hinterland intact.

Stage set for round three.
 
The Roman countryside is not devastated by a Punic army marching and fighting on it for years. Small freeholders remain, not replaced by latifundia. This keeps the Republican sentiment stronger, slower to move toward an oligarchy.
 
The Roman countryside is not devastated by a Punic army marching and fighting on it for years. Small freeholders remain, not replaced by latifundia. This keeps the Republican sentiment stronger, slower to move toward an oligarchy.

The contribution of the Punic war is, sadly, overestimated. The development would still continue, perhaps slightly slowed. It was much more a financial than a military process.

It might do something about the allies' status, though. Without the experience of strong support from their immediate allies, Rome might not be willing to trust them to the same degree.
 
A better question would be what if Allobrogian were successful in their attacks on Hannibal's troops on their jorney up the alps. In the process killing Hannibal Barca?? Would the troops headed back to Spain going back through a hostile Gaul with Scipio blocking them or would they have pushed on to Northern Italy/Rome???
 
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