Once there was a boy named Hannibal, son of Carthaginian general, Hamilcar Barca. The city of Carthage absolutely despised Rome and Roman citizens; therefore, Hannibal swore to his father that he will always have a burning hate for the Romans, no matter what. When Hannibal grew older, he took over his father’s reign and led the Carthaginian army in the Punic Wars. Hannibal was very successful in conquering every small battle against the Romans that stood in his way of victory; until the Battle of Zama, where it was time for Hannibal to meet his maker, Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus. Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, shortened to Scipio, was an ever so powerful Roman statesmen, and general for the Roman army. Scipio was a strategic, smart man. While Hannibal was on his high-horse of winning, Scipio led him to think that he would yet again be able to triumph over the Roman army. Scipio had the master plan to seize Hannibal’s winning streak, and finally overcome in the war of Rome vs. Carthage.
At the Battle of Zama, Hannibal utilized war elephants, thinking that it was the way of winning the overall war of Rome vs. Carthage. Come to find out, Scipio and the Romans had outsmarted Hannibal and the Carthaginians for the first time in all battles. The battle began and Hannibal decided to attack first by charging his elephants into the Roman line of cavalry defense. To the surprise of Hannibal, Scipio invited the elephants into his defensive line. As soon as the elephants got reeled in enough, the Romans blew loud horns to startle the elephants and send them charging back into their own Carthaginian line! The Carthaginians were helpless and thousands of them died. The Romans finally overcame the Carthaginians in the Battle of Zama.
For our younger readers, this is how it would happen if Hannibal and Scipio were only in elementary school. One day, a young boy in 2nd grade named Hannibal went outside at recess to play on the playground with the rest of his class. Hannibal was the class clown, scrawny, and had red hair. A much wider, taller boy named Scipio was in the 3rd grade. Scipio was the mean, nasty type and loved to bully kids that were younger than him. While Hannibal is in the sandbox constructing a beautiful sandcastle, a shadow suddenly appears over him. Scipio, towering over him, kicks the sandcastle over and makes Hannibal cry. From this day forward, the two boys fought each day at recess. Scipio had large friends as well and they were always near his side when the two boys feuded. Hannibal had many friends and most of the 2nd grade on his side. Hannibal was the clever type and always knew ways to mentally destroy Scipio, by talking about his weight and his hideous face. Scipio would always run home crying to his mother complaining that boys were making fun of him. Hannibal thought he was the big man on campus and that he finally won the battle. Hannibal began thinking, “I need to think of a way to finally put Scipio out of his misery, and to prevent him from bullying me ever again!” Hannibal had a great plan; one final battle, to determine the winner of the overall Hannibal vs. Scipio war. Hannibal gathered his toughest friends, their dogs, and their bikes. Scipio didn’t think as “outside of the box” as Hannibal did, and he only made sure his strongest friends were by his side. Scipio knew it was time for the defeat of Hannibal. The final battle took place at the local playground called, Zama. On one side stood Hannibal, his friends on their tricycles, and their big German Shepherds, and on the opposite side stood Scipio and his tallest, strongest friends. The battle has begun as Hannibal yelled, “GO GET ‘EM BOYS!” The dogs charged into Scipio’s line of strong boys. To Hannibal’s surprise, Scipio allowed the dogs in; and then Scipio threw dog treats back over to Hannibal’s side, and the dogs went charging back into their own line! The dogs ran over all of the kids and left them with bruises and cuts on their bodies! Hannibal was defeated. The bully Scipio had won. Looks like Scipio was the toughest contender, after all. Hannibal was devastated and decided he would transfer schools so Scipio wouldn’t bully him anymore.
The End!
"Carthaginian war elephants engage Roman infantry at the Battle of Zama (202 BC)."Wikimedia Commons. Web. 12 Mar 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Schlacht_bei_Zama_Gem%C3%A4lde_H_P_Motte.jpg>.
"The Character of Hannibal." Ancient History Sourcebook. N.p., c.200-after 118 BCE. Web. 12 Mar 2010. <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/polybius-hannibal.html>.
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