October 202 BC · Near Zama, North Africa (modern Tunisia) Theater
October 202 BC
The greatest military minds of their age met in a single battle that would decide the fate of the ancient Mediterranean. Scipio had studied Hannibal's tactics for years and had developed counters for each. He opened lanes in his formation for Hannibal's 80 war elephants to pass through harmlessly; his Numidian cavalry — the same type that had won Cannae for Carthage — pursued Carthaginian horse off the field then returned to envelop Hannibal's veteran last-reserve line. The Roman and Carthaginian infantry fought to near-exhaustion before Scipio's cavalry struck the Carthaginian rear. It was Cannae in reverse. Some 20,000 Carthaginians died; 20,000 more were captured. Hannibal escaped.
Commanders