Rome has lost one-fifth (one hundred and…

Rome has lost one-fifth (one hundred and fifty thousand) of the entire population of citizens over seventeen years of age within just three campaign seasons (twenty months).

The bravest Roman armies in the peninsula have been destroyed, the few remnants severely demoralized, and the only remaining consul (Varro) completely discredited.

In the face of this appalling catastrophe, the desperate Romans resort to human sacrifice, twice burying people alive at the Forum of Rome and abandoning an oversized baby in the Adriatic Sea.

As Hannibal had hoped, the Samnites and many other peoples of southern Italy now abandon Rome.

The Hellenistic southern provinces of Arpi, Salapia, Herdonia, Uzentum, including the cities of Capua and Tarentum (two of the largest city-states in Italy) all revoke their allegiance to Rome and pledge their loyalty to Hannibal.

Rome, refusing to accept defeat, resumes Fabius' brilliant strategy of delay and harassment, frustrating Hannibal from delivering a mortal blow and beginning to wear down his strength.