“History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme.”
— Mark Twain
When people think of historical parallels, few would naturally draw a line from the ancient battlefields of Carthage and Rome to the mechanized trenches and blitzkriegs of the 20th century. And yet, history doesn’t just repeat—it rhymes. In the case of the Punic Wars (264–146 BCE) and the World Wars (1914–1945 CE), the rhymes are profound and revealing.
Separated by more than two thousand years, these two eras of conflict show an uncanny symmetry: the narrative of military resilience betrayed by political surrender, the imposition of harsh peace treaties, the rise of charismatic leaders bent on revenge, and the ultimate defeat of once-great powers. By unpacking these echoes, we gain not only a deeper understanding of the past, but a chilling reminder of how easily the cycle of war and resentment can repeat.
