Part 7/8:
In the years following Hannibal's long campaign in Italy, the Roman army adapted and utilized guerrilla tactics to whittle down his forces. Ultimately, Hannibal was defeated at Zama, marking the end of the Second Punic War. His legacy, however, lived on in the Roman psyche, where figures like Cato the Elder continued to call for the utter destruction of Carthage even years after Hannibal's defeat.
Cato’s fervent slogan, "Carthago delenda est" encapsulated the relentless fear Hannibal instilled in Rome—an emotion that persisted long after the war concluded. This phrase reflects not just historical animosity but also an enduring awareness of Carthage's remarkable civilization, which thrived despite its eventual downfall.