Outline of History
by H. G. Wells
We can only tell very briefly here of the particulars of the Second
and Third Punic Wars. We have told how Hamilcar began to organize Spain,
and how the Romans forbade him to cross thee Ebro. He died in 228 B.C.,
and succeeded by Hannibal, who was now twenty-six. The actual war was
precipitated by the Romans making a breach of their own regulations,
and interfering with affairs south of the Ebro. Whereupon Hannibal marched
straight through the south of Gaul and crossed the Alps.( 218 B.C.)
into Italy. The history of the next fifteen years is the story of the
most brilliant and futile raid in history. For fifteen years Hannibal
held out in Italy.
