Quote Originally Posted by Jebivjetar View Post
Well, it seems that Ptolies changed their attitude after the first punic war.

But one thing i do not understand: didn't Hannibal marched into Italy through Spain because he could not do that from the sea witch was controlled by Romans? I mean, in many books that is the main explanation why Hannibal crossed the Alps to reach Italy: sea was blocked by the Romans.

The battle for the sea was mainly the First Punic War, where the Cartaginians held the advantage at first, but eventually lost to the Romans.

The Second Punic War is with Hannibal, Hannibal was the governer of the Carthaginian posessions in Iberia. Also he was able to recruit local Celtic troops into his army on the way to Italy. If I remember correctly, a large fleet with a large army was being sent to Iberia by Rome, by going overland he evaded that army.

~Fluvius