HANNIBAL - CARTHAGE vs ROME

The Greatest Lesson of the Second Punic War is that Hannibal won every battle, and defeated the armies of Rome, but could never defeat the Empire itself. The purpose of war is supposed to be victory over one's enemy, but unless you exterminate ever last child, you can never win such a war, you can only survive it. Thus, War should be avoided unless it is necessary, defensive, and ultimately winnable. Hannibal's rage for revenge was impressive and cost Rome dearly, but completely unnecessary. The irony was that the Second Punic War inspired Roam to expand its empire across the known world, in order to defend its way of life, just like America.