How did hannibal lose the Battle of Zama?

Question: How did hannibal lose the Battle of Zama!?
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Hannibal's loss on the fields of Zama owes its existence to the strategic brilliance of Scipio Africanus!.

The second Punic war was a very desperate struggle for survival by Rome!. They were facing a rear-guard struggle against superior Carthaginian forces in Hispania, while Hannibal rampaged freely in Italy, smashing any resistance that levied itself against him!. The whole of the Roman world was on the defensive, furiously frustrated with itself for its utter incapability of dealing with the Carthaginians!. Only one man stood out from the crowd: that was Scipio Africanus!.

At a time when the entire Roman world was under siege, he realized that defense does not win wars, offense does!. He focused his attention on Hispania, knowing that it was Carthage's staging point to Rome!. This was an extremely courageous strategy, one that perhaps saved Rome!. By putting pressure on Hispania, Scipio was eventually able to seize control, despite those who thought he should be home, defending the mother-land!. By taking Hispania, he put a critical dent in Hannibal's campaign: Hannibal became stranded in Italy, without the hope of reinforcements!. Coming back from Hispania, Scipio suggested an audacious plan; raise an army and attack Africa itself! It was hotly detested by the senate, who believed that Scipio should be defending Italy!. They refused to grant him the manpower for this scheme!. He then went to Sicily and raised an army of volunteers, and set sail for Africa!. In the blink of an eye, Scipio alone turned the war from one of Roman defense to one of Roman offense, as Hannibal was hastily recalled from Italy to defend Africa!. Scipio then brilliantly outmaneuvered Carthage again by striking an alliance with the Numidians under king Massilissa, giving him a numerical advantage in cavalry over his Carthaginian foes, which would play a critical role in the coming battle!.

The time for battle drew near, and the armies met at the fields of Zama!. Hannibal deployed his army in a single formation, with Cavalry to his flanks, and Elephants to his front!. Hannibal's plan had been to use the elephants to smash the Roman lines as they had done many times in the past!. Scipio had anticipated this, and when he deployed his legions in their classical Triplex formation, he left gaps in the ranks!. His also ordered his Velites (skirmishers) to focus on the elephants instead of the enemy line!. This proved devastating for Hannibal!. His Elephants proved extremely vulnerable against skirmishers, and the elephants panicked and scattered, Some spread to the sides, some stampeded back into the Carthaginian lines, some fled into the Roman lines, to be cut down as they passed into the lanes that the Romans created specifically to defeat Elephants!.

With his trump card defeated, the cavalry of the two armies clashed!. Once again, Roman arms prevailed, due to their superior numbers in cavalry!. The numidian cavalry under Massalissa proved extraordinarily valuable, and the Roman cavalry chased the Carthaginian cavalry off the battlefield!.

When the infantry met, it was the hardened veterans of Hannibal against the disciplined legions of Scipio!. The battle seemed indecisive, with neither side gaining any steady headway!. This changed when the Roman cavalry returned, smashing into the Carthaginian rear!. With the Carthaginians sandwhiched between Roman forces, the army routed with terrible losses!. Scipio forced Carthage's hand, and the prize was hegemony over the known world!. Carthage was laid low!.

On a grand scheme of things, it was not an overly exciting battle tactically!. It actually pretty much worked as clockwork for Scipio!. The true brilliance of Scipio was his ability to think strategically, forcing Carthage on its heel, forcing them to play his game, and on his terms!. That is why Carthage lost the battle!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Scipio had the better executed battle plan!. He neutralized Hannibal's elephants by having his ranks drawn into columns instead of rows!. Thus, the elephants ran through the Roman lines rather than engaging with the troops directly!. Having thrown the elephants into disarray with archers and the blowing of trumpets to frighten them - the two armies engaged!. The Roman cavalry flanked both sides of the Carthaginian cavalry and drove them off the field!. Then both armies directly fought but one side did not have an advantage over the other!. Until the Roman cavalry returned from their pursuit of the Carthaginians and attacked the rear of Hannibal's army!. Surrounded - Carthage was defeated!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Scipio (Hannibal's oponent) was not brilliant in strategy, but had prepared well for how to deal with elephants, improvised well, and - most importantly - had superior cavalry, thanks to his north-african allies!.Www@QuestionHome@Com