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Quiz about Great Battles of the World Cannae

Great Battles of the World - Cannae Quiz

2nd August 216 BC, Cannae. Test your knowledge of the battle.

A multiple-choice quiz by wardythegreat. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
wardythegreat

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
295,291

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
2476

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which two sides were involved in the Battle of Cannae? Hint

Gaul and Rome

Rome and Carthage

Carthage and Egypt

Egypt and Gaul

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Question 2 of 10

2. A year before the Battle of Cannae, Hannibal had ambushed and destroyed 40,000 soldiers under Gaius Flaminius at which battle? Hint

Trebia

Lake Trasimene

Zama

Cissa

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Question 3 of 10

3. At Cannae, Hannibal executed a brilliant use of which battlefield tactic? Hint

Ambush

Fire and Maneuver

Double Envelopment

Square formation

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which of these peoples did NOT march with Hannibal during his invasion of Rome? Hint

Britons

Gauls

Spaniards

Numidians

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Question 5 of 10

5. Varro, the less experienced of the two Roman commanders, believed that the battle with Hannibal would be a walkover for what reason? Hint

They held high ground on the banks of the river

His forces outnumbered Hannibal's by almost 2 to 1

They had more experienced cavalry

The Carthaginians were tired

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Question 6 of 10

6. Hannibal fielded two units of cavalry at Cannae. His elite Numidian Light Horseman on his right, and his heavy cavalry on his left. Who was in command of this heavy cavalry? Hint

Noone

Fedarubal

Hasdrubal

Usterbul

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Question 7 of 10

7. Why was Hannibal in Cannae in the first place? Hint

He was retreating

The Carthaginian Army was lost

In order to seize Roman grain supplies

He was attempting to raise a rebellion

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Question 8 of 10

8. What was the name of the javelin that the Roman infantry would have carried at Cannae? Hint

Mipre

Jeyso

Ouien

Pilum

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Question 9 of 10

9. Hannibal's victory over the Romans at Cannae completed all his objectives of his military campaign.

True

False

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Question 10 of 10

10. The Battle of Cannae was one of the major battles of the second Punic war, but what was the battle that finally decided the victor of the war? Hint

Numandia

Trebia

Zama

Cissa

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which two sides were involved in the Battle of Cannae?

Answer: Rome and Carthage

The battle was fought between the armies of Carthage under Hannibal, and the Roman legions under Lucius Aemilius Paulus and Gaius Terentius Varro.

2. A year before the Battle of Cannae, Hannibal had ambushed and destroyed 40,000 soldiers under Gaius Flaminius at which battle?

Answer: Lake Trasimene

Hannibal's army of 50,000 took the Roman legions completely by surprise when he launched his ambush on the shores of Lake Trasimene. 40,000 Roman soldiers were killed, captured or drowned for the loss of just 1,500 Carthaginan soldiers.

3. At Cannae, Hannibal executed a brilliant use of which battlefield tactic?

Answer: Double Envelopment

Hannibal lured the Romans into attacking his centre by forming his men into a half moon shape, convexed towards the enemy. When the Romans forced his centre through, they found themselves trapped inside a concave half moon. Hannibal's cavalry then moved in from both sides to complete the encirclment.

4. Which of these peoples did NOT march with Hannibal during his invasion of Rome?

Answer: Britons

Hannibal's force was made up of several peoples that had united against the might of Rome.

5. Varro, the less experienced of the two Roman commanders, believed that the battle with Hannibal would be a walkover for what reason?

Answer: His forces outnumbered Hannibal's by almost 2 to 1

The Romans had musstered the greatest army ever fielded in Roman history. They had about 80,000 infantry with 6,000 cavalry. Opposing them was just 40,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry.

6. Hannibal fielded two units of cavalry at Cannae. His elite Numidian Light Horseman on his right, and his heavy cavalry on his left. Who was in command of this heavy cavalry?

Answer: Hasdrubal

Hasdrubal commanded the heavy cavalry on Hannibals right flank. It was this cavalry that moved round and closed the encirclement of the Roman army.

7. Why was Hannibal in Cannae in the first place?

Answer: In order to seize Roman grain supplies

Hannibal needed to feed his army. The Roman grain store in Cannae was just what he wanted.

8. What was the name of the javelin that the Roman infantry would have carried at Cannae?

Answer: Pilum

The Pilum was a long javalin that the Roman soldiers threw before charging. Each man carried two or three.

9. Hannibal's victory over the Romans at Cannae completed all his objectives of his military campaign.

Answer: False

Hannibals original objective had been to break up the mighty state of Rome. He destroyed their army, but the Roman Republic remained intact.

10. The Battle of Cannae was one of the major battles of the second Punic war, but what was the battle that finally decided the victor of the war?

Answer: Zama

Hannibal returned to Carthage to couter a Roman invasion. At the battle of Zama, he found for the first time that his cavalry was outnumbered. The Carthaginians lost the battle, and so ended the second Punic war.

Source: Author wardythegreat

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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