What if Hannibal beats Scipio Africanus at Zama? Does Carthage still lose the 2nd Punic War? Would a victory at Zama change how we view Hannibal and Scipio as generals?
What if Hannibal beats Scipio Africanus at Zama? Does Carthage still lose the 2nd Punic War? Would a victory at Zama change how we view Hannibal and Scipio as generals?
I'd say they'd still lose, but not a complete dismemberment like it was. What would it take for Carthage to win the war?
Supporting the war effort to the hilt, like Rome's senate did.
Ideally better generals - outside Hannibal, the Carthaginian record isn't very good.
Alternatively, a Rome that isn't entirely insane; any other culture would have sued for peace after Trebia, Trasimene, and Cannae. If the Romans are willing to bend a little, then Carthage can win.
I'm not sure I'd call it insane. Rome won the Second Punic War pretty thoroughly despite those defeats - hardly a result of insanity.
I'm not sure I'd call it insane. Rome won the Second Punic War pretty thoroughly despite those defeats - hardly a result of insanity.
Instead of insanity, it'd be more apt to call the Romans tenacious, even perhaps a little stubborn, especially when it comes to foreign armies in their own heartland.
As for Hannibal winning in Zama, it's possible but it won't do much good for Carthage. All of the Barcid's conquests in Hispania have now gone to Rome and it would stay Roman. Maybe, and just maybe the provision that Carthage not be allowed to wage war without the consent of Rome would be removed.
Maybe there will be a Third Punic War, or maybe it'll continue as a fairly rich city, though subordinate in military power to Rome. If there's a conflict similar to the Social War between Rome and her Italian allies, perhaps Carthage will ally itself with the Italians and thus you would have a final clash there.
Would it take another victory like Cannae to get a peace on Carthaginian terms? Hannibal was a brilliant tactical general and if the southern italian states rebelled again, it could be possible for favorable peace.
Would it take another victory like Cannae to get a peace on Carthaginian terms? Hannibal was a brilliant tactical general and if the southern italian states rebelled again, it could be possible for favorable peace.
Also if there is one lesson to be learned from Hannibal's campaign against Rome its that the Romans will simply not quit no matter how dire the situation gets. Even if they had been defeated they would just return again and again until everyone was crushed.