09-02-2004, 07:05 PM
I don't know that I can really say that Cannae was the greatest Roman defeat ever, but I do think that a few of the comments made about it ought to be addressed.<br>
I think it might be fair to say that the 'greatest' defeat should be one which had real consequences, but they need not be entirely negative. Certainly, Rome eventually won the Second Punic War, but would it be fair to say that they won it because, after the defeat at Cannae, they reorganized the way in which they fought? Once again, I'm not sure that I would answer that question with an unequivocal yes, but it's a question worth floating. <p></p><i></i>
I think it might be fair to say that the 'greatest' defeat should be one which had real consequences, but they need not be entirely negative. Certainly, Rome eventually won the Second Punic War, but would it be fair to say that they won it because, after the defeat at Cannae, they reorganized the way in which they fought? Once again, I'm not sure that I would answer that question with an unequivocal yes, but it's a question worth floating. <p></p><i></i>
