Although the beginning of the second Punic war, Hannibal seemed to be leading victorious throughout Italy after crossing the Alps into Roman territory, the outcome of the Punic war led to the downfall of Carthage. During the second Punic war, Hannibal fought the Romans in the battle of Cannae, where “Poylbius estimates Hannibal had close to 40,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry versus the Roman force of 80,000 infantry and 8,000 cavalry” (History Extra, 2009). It was one of the most famous battles in military history and is said to be taught in modern military colleges because of it's significance. Hannibal was outnumbered but used his cunning tactics to close his troops around the charging Roman soldiers to slaughter them in this battle.