text: You find yourself at the entrance (or exit) of a cave hewn into the side of a rockface at the edge of a sandy landscape. It is nighttime and in the sky a full moon shines brightly, revealing a desert. It is nice and cool, a gentle breeze brushes your face. Just a little ahead of you, you can make out two shadowy figures loading stuff on their horses with much haste. Their whispers to each other are excited and incomprehensible - at least to you. Suddenly, from behind you above the rockface, you notice the presence of a group of men on horseback. The two shadowy figures in front of you don't notice these horsemen until they start decending the rockface by way of a sandy slope to your left. The shadowy figures immediately start to panick. One of them drops his gear as he jumps his mount, revealing a sack filled with all kinds of relics and valuables - probably worth a fortune. They immediately start galoping away, but are hotly pursued by the group of horsemen...but not all of them! Two of the horsemen are approaching you!
  
  To be honest my dear timetraveler, the two shadowy figures have just robbed a tomb in the Valley of the Kings and are now being pursued by the guards of the Necropolis. Not your problem you might think as you have not stolen anything, but unfortunately the governor of the Necropolis leading the group and his guard don't know this and are coming your way. As you well know the punishment for robbing a grave was severe in Ancient Egypt: impaling, burning or decapitation will await you if you are caught! So better answer me this question ASAP.
  
  In order to find out where you are in time I will describe you the pharaoh who is currently ruling these lands and who will personally sentence you in the 'Great Kenbet' or High Court.
  
  The pharaoh ruling Egypt at this time is considered to be one of the most successful and peaceful rulers of Ancient Egypt, in power for more than twenty years. This pharaoh was the fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty and would be known for reestablishing the famous trade networks which had been disrupted during the Hyksos occupation and organizing the famous trade expedition to the Land of Punt. This pharaoh was a profilic builder, commissioning hundreds of projects in both upper and lower Egypt. This pharaoh would be succeeeded by Thutmose III.
  
  Who am I talking about?
  
  > Pharaoh Hatsheput
  Congratulations! You got it right...you find yourself in 1472 B.C. in the sixth year of pharaoh Hatsheput's reign which lasted until 1458 B.C. Although uncommon to have a female ruler in Ancient Egypt it was not unprecedented. In comparison to other female pharaohs, her reign was long and prosperous. She succesfully established trading relationships with her neighbours bringing great wealth to Egypt and giving her the opportunity to fund great building projects, thereby promoting her own accomplishments for posterity in the process. It also allowed her to set up the great trading expedition to the rich Land of Punt. It is unclear where the Land of Punt was, some historians believe that it was located in Sudan others that was Somalia or even on the coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Hatsheput was succeeded to the throne by her stepson the great Thutmose III. Evidence shows that the relationship between the stepson and stepmother was stormy and it is unclear when exactly Thutmose was named co-regent by Hatsheput in preparation of his ascendency to the Egyptian throne.
  
  Well, enough blabbing..time to get you out of Egypt before the governor of the Necropolis, Hawa, is upon you and imprisons you as a graverobber...unless you want to stay?
  
  > Continue...
  Oh man! At least the last time Chronos landed you somewhere in time before a battle, now he has put you right in the middle of it!!! There is panick around you: cries of suffering, cries of anger, mutilated bodies, blood, the clashing of spears, shields and swords. You are being pushed side to side and quickly duck as the arm of the soldier in front of you is raised in order to deliver a blow. You are surrounded by Romans - you immediately recognize their outfits - but as the Roman in front of you falls to the ground with a gargling blood-spitting cry, you quickly notice that you are faced by some frightening warriors. Judging by their crude, scruffy look, their long trousers, long shirts and long swords they are auxilia from Gaul. One of them, in a rage, comes at you, thirsty for your blood and raising his sword yet again in order to deliver you a killing blow. In reaction, you grab the shield of the bleeding Roman at your feet and raise it above your head, just in time to par the blow of the Gallic warrior. But he keeps on hitting you with great force, forcing you on your knees!
  
  "Hurry Chronos...", you cry, "...give me your question before I am beaten to a pulp!!!!"
  
  Sorry participant, it was not my intention to land you right in the middle of the Battle of Cannae in 216 B.C. and certainly not on the Roman side which is now being surrounded by Hannibal and his allies. But hey...I'm not perfect either.
  
  Quickly...answer me the following: which of the following is NOT a Carthaginian victory during the 2nd Punic War (218-201 B.C.)?
  
  > Battle of Ager Falernus
  This is the wrong answer. The Battle of Ager Falernus in 217 B.C. was not a real battle but a victory for Hannibal nevertheless. After the battle at Lake Trasimene, Hannibal's troops were in desperate need of supply and rest. Hannibal led them into the region of Falernum, a fertile river valley in campania. The Roman general Fabius Maximus knew that Hannibal was there and decided to block all the mountain passes and river crossings with his army to prevent Hannibal from moving out - and if so, under disadvantageous terrain conditions. In order to break out of the trap, Hannibal devised a bold plan by gathering 2000 oxen and tying faggots and dry wood to their horns. At night, Hannibal ordered them lit. The terrified cattle stampeded down the mountain pass guarded by 4000 Romans who believed that they were attacked by thousands of soldiers. The cattle ran amok, breaking the Roman lines after which, the Carthaginian vanguard attacked the Romans and forced them to flee. Soon after, the entire Carthaginian army moved through the pass, unmolested.
  
  Unfortunately this is not going to happen to you dear contestant, as I'm leaving you at Cannae in 216 B.C. You will have to fend off the barbarian from Gaul and then the surrounding Carthaginian army by yourself. The Romans had an army of 85.000 at the battle of Cannae of which 50.000 had died on the field of battle and 10.000 were captured. Your chances of survival are not that great. Look at the bright side: you will be a direct witness to one of the most famous battles in history!