Hannibal's soldiers were, on the other hand, trained to fight in tactics resembling those of modern days.

No sooner was the word given to charge than the Carthaginian horse, delighted at being at last, after all their toils and sufferings, within striking distance of their foes, gave a mighty shout, and setting spurs to their splendid horses flung themselves at the enemy.
The charge of this solid mass of picked cavalry was irresistible.

They swept before them the skirmishers and Gaulish horse, and fell with fury upon the main body, cleaving a way far into its ranks.

Before the Romans could recover from their confusion the Numidian horse burst down upon their flanks.

The charge was irresistible; large numbers of the Romans were killed and the rest fled in panic, hotly pursued by the Carthaginians, until they reached the shelter of the Roman infantry, which was advancing behind them.