Tunisia/Italy: Hannibal's army crossing the Alps during the Second Punic War (218-201 BCE). Woodcut print by Heinrich Leutemann (1824-1905), 1866. The Second Punic War (218 BCE - 201 BCE) is most remembered for the Carthaginian Hannibal's crossing of the Alps. He and his army invaded Italy from the north and resoundingly defeated the Roman army in several battles, but never achieved the ultimate goal of causing a political break between Rome and its allies. While fighting Hannibal in Italy, Hispania and Sicily, Rome also simultaneously fought against Macedon in the First Macedonian War.