History of Warfare Summary 16 - The Second Punic War, Part 9: The Battle of Zama and Hannibal's Defeat

In 202 BC, at the Battle of Zama, the Roman army led by Scipio defeated Hannibal's Carthaginian forces. Hannibal attempted to break the Roman infantry with war elephants, but the Romans created gaps in their formations, allowing the elephants to pass through. Subsequently, Roman and Numidian cavalry drove out the Carthaginian cavalry, and in the latter half of the battle, they returned to attack the Carthaginian rear. Hannibal's army resisted until the end but was ultimately defeated. Carthage could no longer continue the war and requested a peace treaty with Rome. According to the peace treaty signed in 201 BC, Carthage had to cede most of its overseas territories and pay enormous reparations. Furthermore, its military activities were severely restricted as it could no longer wage war without Rome's permission. Scipio earned the title 'Africanus' for his victory at Zama. Hannibal later participated in Carthaginian politics but eventually went into exile to escape Roman pressure. The Second Punic War ended with Carthage's defeat, establishing Roman hegemony in the Western Mediterranean.