Which general is credited with ending the Second Punic War by defeating Hannibal at Zama?

Which general is credited with ending the Second Punic War by defeating Hannibal at Zama?

• A. Hannibal
• B. Brutus
• C. Scipio
• D. St. Paul

Answer: (C)

The key idea is identifying who finally brought the Second Punic War to a close by defeating Hannibal at the battle of Zama. Scipio, known as Scipio Africanus, had built Roman strength first in Spain and then in Africa, where he allied with Masinissa’s Numidian cavalry and reorganized Roman forces to counter Hannibal’s set-piece tactics and war-elephants. At Zama, his coordinated use of flexible infantry formations, disciplined Roman legions, and superior cavalry broke Hannibal’s expected advantage and forced Carthage to sue for peace. That decisive victory is why Scipio is credited with ending the war and earning the title Africanus for his successes on both continents. The other names don’t fit: Hannibal was the opponent, Brutus is a later Republican figure not linked to this war’s end, and St. Paul is a religious figure far removed from Roman military history.