Catastrophic defeats at Trebia, Lake Trasimene and Cannae shattered any faith Rome’s allies had in them, and almost imploded the Republic. It was a hard fought victory for Rome, however Hannibal Barca’s campaign in Italy, following his daring crossing of the Alps, nearly brought Rome to ruin. It marked the end of a contest for power in the Mediterranean - the establishment of Roman hegemony over the entire Italian peninsula and deep into Iberia. The Second Punic War is, arguably, the most sweeping, destructive war of ancient times.
