Why did They do that? ... Takes on the Punic Wars

Having chosen to represent the Romans, you will become several different leaders during the course of this simulation. Since Rome is a Republic, leaders change frequently. Consuls are being appointed by the Senate each year, and many times the consul will come into the field himself to lead his troops. Other times, he will appoint a General, based on that man's reputation or expertise. This approach may yield uneven results, but, for Rome, it prevents something the Carthaginian Senate is very afraid of right now: the possibility that one General will gain so much fame and popularity that he will become a threat to the political system of the country.

Rome is not yet the great power that it will come to be during its age of empire. She lacks a great navy, and has not yet been tested in battle to an extent that will prove her might. Rome has potential trouble on all frontiers; a dangerous situation for an unproven military. The Gauls to the Northwest are warlike, and move quite often. The Macedonians to the Northeast are fully aware of their Alexandrian heritage, and often have been in conflict along the border. Those darn Carthaginians control almost all trade in the Western Mediterranean, and, along with the Greeks, have designs on Sicily and other lands that would further restrict Roman expansion and security.

As our story opens, the Roman Senate is faced with a difficult decision. Word has come to Rome that Hannibal is in Iberia (Spain), and is causing concern among Roman allies there. Knowing the Barca family, it will not be long before Hannibal begins some sort of conquest of Roman lands. In fact, there is great recrimination in Rome over the settlement to the First Punic War, which allowed Carthage to keep lands in Spain. This policy gave the Carthaginians a land base from which to attack Rome's allies.

Unfortunately, the Gauls are also getting out of hand at this point. They have been insolent and aggressive, and are in obvious need of a lesson in manners. They threaten the Roman border, and have been known to cross the mountains, sacking towns and destroying Roman outposts. Each time this occurs, they become more confident, and seem bent on eventually invading Rome itself, which they had done in the dim mists of your past.

With the question before the Roman Senate: "Shall we send our forces to Spain to confront Hannibal, or to Gaul to put the Gauls in their place?", how do you vote?