Hannibal Barca: The General Who Nearly Destroyed Rome — Fexingo History cover art

Hannibal Barca: The General Who Nearly Destroyed Rome — Fexingo History

Hannibal Barca: The General Who Nearly Destroyed Rome — Fexingo History

By: Fexingo
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Summary

 Hannibal Barca, the Carthaginian general who marched war elephants over the Alps, brought the Roman Republic to its knees. This show traces his life from childhood in Carthage, through the Second Punic War (218–201 BCE), to his final years in exile. Lucas and Luna explore the battles of Trebia, Lake Trasimene, and Cannae—where Hannibal’s double-envelopment tactic annihilated a massive Roman army. They delve into Carthaginian culture, the Barcid family’s ambitions in Iberia, the role of Numidian cavalry, and the political machinations of the Roman Senate. The series also covers Scipio Africanus’s counter-invasion of Africa, the Battle of Zama, and the Treaty of 201 BCE that crippled Carthage. Why did Hannibal ultimately fail? Was Rome’s resilience a product of its republican institutions, or sheer luck? And how did Hannibal’s legend shape later military thought, from Napoleon to modern strategy? Join Lucas and Luna as they dissect the man, the myth, and the moment when the ancient world’s superpower nearly fell. #HannibalBarca #Carthage #SecondPunicWar #AlpsCrossing #WarElephants #BattleOfCannae #ScipioAfricanus #Rome #AncientHistory #MilitaryHistory #PunicWars #Numidia #BarcidDynasty #Zama #LakeTrasimene #History #WorldHistory #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo© 2026 Fexingo. All rights reserved. Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • Hannibal's Exile in the Hellenistic World

    Hannibal's Exile in the Hellenistic World
    May 17 2026
    After Zama, Hannibal Barca fled Carthage and spent decades advising kings across the Hellenistic world, from Tyre to Ephesus. This episode explores his exile under Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire, his naval battle against the Rhodian fleet at Side, and his final years in Bithynia where he died by poison in 183 BCE. We also examine his role as a military advisor to Prusias I, his escape from Roman assassins, and the enduring legacy of his campaign against Rome. Lucas and Luna discuss the political intrigue of the Seleucid court, the Battle of Eurymedon, and how Hannibal's tactics influenced later Hellenistic warfare. Tune in to discover the untold story of Rome's greatest enemy in his final decade. #HannibalBarca #Exile #SeleucidEmpire #AntiochusIII #Bithynia #PrusiasI #BattleOfSide #BattleOfEurymedon #HellenisticWorld #Carthage #RomanRepublic #Polybius #Livy #Ephesus #Tyre #AncientHistory #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    5 mins
  • Hannibal's Exile: The Last Years of Carthage's Greatest Enemy

    Hannibal's Exile: The Last Years of Carthage's Greatest Enemy
    May 17 2026
    After his defeat at Zama in 202 BCE, Hannibal Barca didn't vanish. He stayed in Carthage, became a suffete—a magistrate—and launched sweeping political and economic reforms to pay off Rome's crushing war indemnity. This episode follows Hannibal's post-war career: his fight against the corrupt oligarchic council, his reforms to the tax system and the financial oversight of the treasury, and the bitter opposition from the Hundred and Four judges. We explore how his success made him a target: Rome, suspicious of Carthage's recovery, demanded his surrender. Hannibal fled into exile, first to Tyre, then to the court of Antiochus III in Ephesus, where he advised the Seleucid king against invading Italy—advice Antiochus ignored. Finally, cornered in Bithynia, Hannibal took poison rather than be captured. This is the story of Hannibal not as a general, but as a politician, refugee, and symbol of defiance. It's a tale of resilience, corruption, and the long reach of Roman power. #HannibalBarca #Carthage #Exile #Suffete #HundredandFour #AntiochusIII #Seleucid #Bithynia #RomanRepublic #SecondPunicWar #Zama #Polybius #Reforms #Tyre #Ephesus #History #FexingoHistory #AncientHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    4 mins
  • Hannibal's Naval War: The Carthaginian Fleet That Rome Destroyed

    Hannibal's Naval War: The Carthaginian Fleet That Rome Destroyed
    May 16 2026
    When we think of Hannibal, we picture elephants crossing the Alps and infantry battles like Cannae. But the Second Punic War was also decided at sea. This episode explores the naval side of Hannibal's campaign: the Carthaginian fleet, the Roman naval strategy, and key battles like the Ebro River, Cape Ecnomus, and the destruction of Carthage's navy at the Battle of the Aegates (though that was earlier). We discuss the types of ships—quinqueremes—the crews, the tactics (boarding versus ramming), and how Rome's relentless shipbuilding ultimately cut Hannibal off from reinforcements. Lucas and Luna also touch on the role of the Roman navy under commanders like Publius Cornelius Scipio and Gaius Lutatius Catulus. A fresh angle on a familiar war. #Hannibal #SecondPunicWar #CarthaginianNavy #RomanNavy #NavalWarfare #Quinquereme #BattleOfEbro #CapeEcnomus #AegatesIslands #GaiusLutatiusCatulus #PubliusCorneliusScipio #MilitaryHistory #AncientHistory #Mediterranean #Shipbuilding #BoardingTactics #Ramming #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    6 mins
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