Dan Snow's History Hit The Rise and Fall of Carthage
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Aug 28, 2025 Join Eve MacDonald, a senior lecturer in ancient history and author, as she explores the fierce rivalry between Rome and Carthage. Discover the remarkable strategies employed during the Punic Wars, including Hannibal's daring Alpine crossing. MacDonald sheds light on Carthage's rich maritime empire and the critical events that escalated tensions, ultimately leading to its dramatic downfall. From the complexities of ancient warfare to the lasting legacy of Carthage, this conversation offers a captivating glimpse into one of history's greatest conflicts.
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Tactical Mastery, Strategic Limits
- Hannibal won repeated major battles in Italy (Trebia, Trasimene, Cannae) but lacked the resources to capture Rome itself.
- Eve MacDonald highlights Roman resilience and manpower that let Rome survive catastrophic defeats.
Fabius' Strategy Of Delay
- Quintus Fabius Maximus's delaying strategy avoided pitched battles and contained Hannibal's mobility in Italy.
- Rome later abandoned this cautious approach, leading to the catastrophic Battle of Cannae in 216 BC.
Cannae: The Encirclement Disaster
- At Cannae Hannibal executed an encirclement that slaughtered tens of thousands of Romans and elites in one of antiquity's bloodiest days.
- Eve MacDonald recounts vivid ancient images of the battlefield and the heavy toll on Rome's elite class.
