The Punic Wars

Not sure. Carthage actually could've built far more than thwt. The real deciding factor was manpower to man them.

They did in fact have a navy or did. Twenty triremes plus any ships the Greek Italian cities had. The corvus was a good weapon but as the numerous fleets sunk showed wasn't practical. Rome didn't need a Carthaginian ship for knowlesge of how to build the ship. Her Greek cities would doubtless know how. However try were assembled quicker due to each piece being numbered and prefabricated allowing quicker building and more efficient. Its most likely a myth.

Actually the Romans were far better equipped as footsoldiers. They dis in fact steal ideas from any culture they met. They didn't invent much.

Found it.

Roman Army of the Punic Wars:
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=yKxKBPFIXLMC&lpg=PP2&dq=punic%20war&pg=PA4#v=onepage&q&f=false

I dont think Rome still had much of a choice since even by the end it had a cavalry force that still paled in comparison to the Hellenistic or the Hellenistic copied Carthage. At best a large number of Numidian auxilla...

Originally posted by Theodore Felix While the leading general's of Rome, Mercellus Nero and Scipio, learned the folly of this approach it should be noted that Scipio's differed from Hannibal's in that Scipio used his heavy infantry as the decisive attacking force. I dont think Rome still had much of a choice since even by the end it had a cavalry force that still paled in comparison to the Hellenistic or the Hellenistic copied Carthage. At best a large number of Numidian auxilla...

 The Numidians are regarded as some of the finest light horse in the ancient world, Hannibal relied on them heavily alongside his heavier Spanish and Punic cavalrymen.

 Roman cavalry in sufficient numbers wasn't so bad, at Cannae despite being defeated, the outnumbered Roman cavalry on the right flank put up some fierce resistance against Hannibals Spanish horse before finally breaking. They were by no means the best, but in sufficient numbers were not useless.

 It is true though that the Romans did throughout their history heavily relied upon foreign cavalry forces, Sarmatians used in Britain, Gauls in Parthia, Germans as household cavalry at different periods of Roman history. It's curious why in the face of such an obvious deficiency, the Romans did not see the need their own cavalry to improve, much as they seemed to regard a navy as unnecessary pre-Punic wars.

 It's utterly bizarre that this hole was filled with so many foreign troops.

By that point in the war pretty much every general had learned to copy Hannibal. Scipio was certainly not the first. I would say Marcellus was the first to really begin to copy Hannibal's tactics.

when Hannibal army came across Alps,number of cavalry was 6000,and ordinary soldiers 20 000. Plus numerous of Gauls... That was big suprise for Romans,cause Publie Cornelius Scipio was already on his marsh for Spain in fort Masilia(greeks collony). But he return his army in north italy,and his brother Gney Scipio continiu marsh for Spain. Hannabl defeat Roamns near the river Trebia and after that came Trazimen lake 217 B.C.
Very important and VERY brave move was when Hanniabal lead his army across swamp Arno(where he lost one of his eyes),becuse Romans are concetrate there troups in Arimin and Arezzo,and lead by Flaminus. Carthagen brave leader make for his final goal few steps more,cause Romans think that they are still waiting for him. So he bet Flaminius near lake and Carthagens killed 15 000 Flaminius soldiers.After this batlle,road to Rome was never been closer,but...

 I think the reasons for Scipio not confronting Hannibal in Italy are quite obvious, by invading Africa, the idea appears to have been that Carthage would recall Hannibal. Therefore Scipio would be indirectly ridding Italy of Hannibal without a single Italian being butchered in his forced expulsion.
 
 The final confrontation would be on Scipios terms, where he wanted it and when, Hannibal could only react. Just as Hannibal had done to the Romans in the epic years after he invaded Italy, Scipio was dictating the course of events. Putting his opponent at a disadvantage and putting him in a position where Scipio was on top.

 The irony of this was probably not lost on Hannibal, Scipio was playing Hannibal pretty much by his own game, by threatening Carthage Scipio forced Hannibal to confront him, ill prepared for the final battle.