Battle of Zama

By 206 BC, the war had reached a decisive moment. The Roman army under Scipio had learned many lessons from Hannibal's tactics and was poised to overtake and defeat the Carthaginians in the final battle. The biggest impetus for the Romans was the support of the Massyli tribe, who initially fought alongside the Carthaginians but sided with the Romans after the battle of Ilipa. Their support in the battle of Zama, one of the biggest events of the Second Punic War, proved much of Rome's success. The battle of Zama was fought in 202 BC near Zama, now in Tunisia, and marked the end of the Second Punic War. A Roman army led by Publius Cornelius Scipio, with crucial support from Numidian leader Masinissa, defeated the Carthaginian army led by Hannibal.

Unlike most battles in the Second Punic War, in the battle of Zama, the Romans fought better with cavalry and the Carthaginians had infantry. The Roman army constituted a superior force in both weaponry and skill when compared to the Carthaginians. Hannibal probably knew this, and he also believed that his men would not be able to penetrate the Roman defenses, so he refused to lead his army into battle. The battle of Zama became the downfall of Hannibal and dealt a decisive blow to the Carthaginian forces.

• Time: 202 BC