Why did They do that? ... Takes on the Punic Wars
by David E. Woody, Parkersburg Catholic High School, WV
You have changed history! Had Rome sent its forces directly to Iberia, it is unclear what the result might have been. It is possible that the Gauls might have invaded Italy, and caused a great deal of trouble. It would not be out of the realm of possibility that Rome would have collapsed, and western history changed significantly. It is also possible that the unorganized Gauls might have failed to create much impact, and the Roman army in Spain might have destroyed the Carthaginians before they got started. If Hannibal were not the official leader, he might have had less impact, and the Romans might have been victorious. Scroll down to see what actually happened.
Having chosen to send your troops to Gaul, you have done exactly what the "real" Romans chose to do. Logically, the threat from Gaul is much closer and more immediate, and must be dealt with. Just as the real Romans did, however, you may have made a mistake. The time, money, and men it will cost you to subdue the Gauls is critical to the development of Hannibal and his plans. While you delay, Hasdrubal, the official leader of the Carthaginian forces, is murdered, and Hannibal is chosen leader by acclamation. His popularity and power rise to new heights, and his men will now willingly follow him into any situation, regardless of their potential gain. Since Hannibal truly detests Rome, he will no doubt cause you great trouble now. Move on to your next decision.
You are now in Spain, with an immense force. Hannibal is in the vicinity, and spies report that he has only one-fifth the number of troops you do (about 20,000 to 100,000). He is withdrawing toward the Tagus River, and you are in hot pursuit. This would be an excellent chance to eliminate Hannibal, if you choose your strategy wisely. The River Tagus is about 3-feet deep, and you can easily ford it if you choose to do so. You cannot be sure when you might have another opportunity to catch Hannibal alone with such a small force. What did the Romans do?
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