History/Culture Stage 20-21 Flashcards
Why did the Romans replace their dictator Fabius Cunctator with two new consuls? How did their strategy compare with his?
Because they were unhappy with his more passive strategies. The two consuls were more aggressive.
How did the Roman army and Carthaginian army compare? Who seemed to be at an advantage? Why
The romans had 80,000 infantry and 6,000 cavalry. Carthage brought 40,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry. The Romans seemed to be at an advantage because of their higher numbers
how did the Romans prefer to face their enemies? What was the Roman army’s usual tactic? How did they apply this to the battle with the Carthaginians at Cannae?
Rome preferred to face her enemies on flat ground with no obstacles. They usually broke through the center of the enemy lines and then surrounded the enemy with superior numbers. Against Carthage, they added some extra troops in the center back for more support and avoided exposing themselves too much to the Carthaginian cavalry.
How did the Romans view Hannibal’s cleverness? How did Hannibal employ this talent at Cannae?
Rome viewed Hannibal’s cleverness as trickery. At Cannae, Hannibal sent his troops forward with his seemingly weak front lines arced forward in a semicircle to draw in the Romans, which is exactly what happened. The front lines in the center then fell back, continuing to draw the romans between the outer lines of the Carthaginian army. Carthage then surrounded the roman army and completely decimated them.
What happened to both of the consuls
killed at cannae.
Who won the battle at Cannae? How did the casualties of both armies compare
Carthage, hands down. Rome lost 72,600, with 10,000 captured, and Carthage lost 8,000, which is a kill death ratio of 10:1.
After Cannae, how did Rome and Carthage’s allies shuffle? Who seemed to be at the advantage?
Rome’s Italian allies revolted and joined Hannibal, along with Capua, Tarentum, Macedonia, and Syracuse. Many other Sicilian cities also threatened to revolt. But the Latin colonies and other Greek cities remained loyal to Rome. This seemed to set Carthage at an advantage.
How did the scope of the war change after the Battle of Cannae?
The war was no longer just about recovering Italy – now Rome was also fending off Hasdrubal’s reinforcements from Spain, keeping the other Sicilian cities from following Syracuse’s example, and the king of Macedonia from interfering in Italy’s affairs.
What were five things that turned the tide of the war in favor of the Romans
Hasdrubal was defeated in spain – no reinforcements from him to hannibal, Hannibal was pushed back from Campania, Rome, with some Greek assistance had prevented Macedonia from aiding Hannibal, Syracuse was captured, Hannibal’s forces were weakened due to protecting his allies scattered all across Italy
How did Rome intend to recover Capua? How did Hannibal attempt to distract the Roman armies? Was he successful?
By siege. Hannibal marched on Rome, pillaging as he went, but even when he was at the gates of Rome, the Roman army would not stop their siege of Capua.
How did Italy end up with two enemies invading instead of just one? What did the Romans do about this? How did Hannibal find out?
Hasdrubal invaded Italy to help his brother. Part of the second Roman army headed to stop Hasdrubal, destroyed him and his army, and threw Hasdrubal’s head into Hannibal’s encampment.
Who was Publius Scipio Africanus to Rome? How old was he during the battle of Cannae? How did he plan to end the war? How did the Roman people and senate respond to this plan?
The closest thing Rome ever had to a military genius – he was the son of one of the elder Scipio generals and was elected to the consulship after reclaiming the entire Spanish peninsula. Planned to keep Hannibal blocked on the Bruttian peninsula in Italy, and carry the war to Africa. The Roman people and senate backed him completely.
How did Scipio prepare an army for Africa? Who made up the army? Where did they get their weapons and equipment?
The army was made up mostly of volunteers and armed by generous donations from patriotic Romans.
Who began the battle of Zama? How did this happen?
The war elephants – possibly by accident, they charged ahead of the infantry. They may have been newly tamed.
How did the Romans take care of the charging elephants? The Carthaginian cavalry?
The Roman skirmishers fell back to draw the elephants into gaps in the line, then stabbed at the elephants as they surrounded them. The Carthaginian cavalry was overwhelmed by their confused elephants and the numidians (assisting Rome) chased them off.
