History of Wars Summary 16 - The Second Punic War, Part 8: Scipio's African Campaign

In 204 BC, Scipio landed in North Africa with the Roman army. He exploited divisions among Carthage's Numidian allies to form an alliance with Masinissa. The Numidian cavalry became a crucial support force for the Romans, thanks to their swift mobility. Scipio engaged in various battles and sieges in North Africa, directly pressuring Carthage's homeland. As the crisis escalated, Carthage ordered Hannibal to return from Italy. Hannibal left Italy, where he had stayed for a long time, and returned to Africa. However, due to the ongoing war, it was difficult for him to secure sufficient troops and cavalry. Carthage reorganized its army around Hannibal once more to prepare for a confrontation with the Romans. Scipio, too, combined Numidian cavalry with Roman infantry to prepare for a decisive battle. Both sides clashed at Zama in 202 BC. Hannibal deployed war elephants, but the Roman army countered by creating gaps between their formations, allowing the elephants' charge to pass through harmlessly.