romans

[vendes]

why did Hannibal's attack catch the Romas off guard?

[fairkatrina]

Maybe because he came over the Alps on elephants? As it happens though most of them died on the journey.

[Octavius]

Romans took war to other nations. They didn�t expect a neighbouring gang to parade around their manor.

[Kromovaracun]

Why did he catch them off guard? His manoeuvre through the Alps, though disastrously costly (as katrina pointed out) would certainly be a reason. As would the simple fact that he gave such a severe drubbing (though not the first or last in Roman history).