Alternate history - What if? Carthage, Roman, and Battle of the Metaurus

[Tran]

Gentlemen and Ladies, time for another alternate history series. Unlike my previous Battle of the Teutonburg Forest alternate history, I believe this one has far-more long-lasting (or any words you put it) impact, since this decided the fate of one of the most important civilization in European history (if not world history), the Roman Republic/Empire. Let's go directly to the subject:

The battle of the Metaurus was fought in 207 BC by the Roman Republic and Carthage, who were then waging the Second Punic War. It took place near the Metaurus river in northern Italy, and it was fought between a Carthaginian army headed by Hasdrubal Barca, brother of Hannibal and a slightly larger Roman army headed by consuls Marcus Livius Salinator and Gaius Claudius Nero. When the latter found out that Hasdrubal was planning on joining Hannibal's armies in order to launch a final all-out attack on Rome, he hastily set out to join Salinator to intercept the Carthaginian armies. Hasdrubal, knowing that his forces were inferior in number and in fighting prowess, tried to avoid combat, but he was eventually caught at the banks of the Metaurus. There, the Roman legionaires were able to achieve an important victory, and Hasdrubal found his death at the end of the battle.

This battle prevented a full-scale attack on Rome to which the city would have fallen with all probability. Historian Paul K. Davis says:

"For 11 years Hannibal had his own way in Italy, defeating every force the Romans could send against him. Still, the constant warfare and inability to recruit quality troops locally meant he had to have reinforcements if he was going to capture Rome itself and dictate terms. Hasdrubal's defeat near the Metaurus River meant that would not happen...had Hasdrubal joined with his brother, the resulting force could well have captured Rome and changed the fortunes of the Mediterranean Basin."

The success of Hannibal's military tactics, the defection of several allies of Rome and the political instability in Rome had brought it to the brink of defeat, but after the victory at the banks of the Metaurus, the current of the conflict shifted and the tide turned to the favour of the Roman Republic. Robert F. Pennel wrote in "Ancient Rome from the Earliest Times Down to 476AD" in 1980:

"The war in Italy was now virtually ended, for, although during four years more Hannibal stood at bay in a corner of Bruttium, he was powerless to prevent the restoration of Roman authority throughout Italy."

Questions:

1. Can the Carthage actually won the battle? Is Roman's victory inevitable? Are these just Carthage (Hasdrubal Barca to be exact) defeat waiting to happen?

Now ignore question no.1 and whatever thinking of 'Romans Will Win':

2. Certainly Carthage victory will, with all probability as Paul Davis said, ended the Roman's existance? The same way Carthage met its fate in real history? Will the Carthage treat Romans (and its capital) the same way Romans (in real history) treated Carthage's capital? By burning it to the ground and wipe it out of existance?

3. How will the Carthage continue its expansion after Rome's fall? Will it just stop and had enough? Will it continue from then, the similiar way Rome did in real history (by conquering Balkans, Greece, France, Britain, Egypt, etc) ? If they did decide to conquer Greece, what will they did? Assimilate and incorporate just like Rome?

4. How will Europe be shaped from then on? Will, again with all probability, Carthage collapse just like Roman Empire? How long? Faster because they're "semi-barbarians" as Romans said? Or will it be longer? Disintegrate like Roman Empire? Maybe South Carthage (Africa) and North Carthage (Europe)?

5. What will today's Europe, from 1600s to today looks like? Certainly it will not be the same Europe as we know today, yes? Different cultures, technology, religion, etc. Paganism as main religion in today's Europe? Rome will be placed in history no different than those small kingdoms during that time?

EDIT: To help those who don't understand the battle or need further references, here are some I found:

http://www.historynet.com/wars_confl...s/3028111.html
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles..._metaurus.html
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/...Metaurus*.html
http://www.livius.org/ap-ark/appian/...nnibal_00.html