Pros of Hannibal’s route during the Punic Wars

Rome sat on top of an uneasy confderation of Italian citiy-states, whose combined power gave Rome ascendancy. Hannibal’s strategy was to take the war to Italy and detach as many of these restive Roman subject cities as possible to his own side. He was partly successful and remained a threat in Italy for many years.

Rome took fifteen years to wake up, but then retaliated with the same strategy by sending Scipio to Africa with an army to threaten Carthage. Hannibal was recalled to defend Carthage, and was defeated there, ending the Second Punic War.