The Second Punic War, lasting from 218-201 BC, was primarily a conflict between Rome and which famous Carthaginian general?

The Second Punic War was primarily a conflict characterized by the remarkable military tactics and strategies of the Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca. He is most famous for his audacious crossing of the Alps with war elephants, which took the Roman forces by surprise and enabled him to achieve several significant victories early in the war, such as the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC. Hannibal’s strategic genius made him a formidable adversary for Rome and is a central figure in the history of military warfare.

The other options represent significant figures in Roman history but are not directly associated with the Second Punic War. Scipio, while a prominent Roman general later in the conflict, is more known for his role in turning the tide of the war after Hannibal's initial successes. Augustus, as the first Roman emperor, lived much later and was not involved in this specific conflict. Nero, a Roman emperor infamous for his controversial reign, also existed after the events of the Second Punic War. Thus, Hannibal stands out as the key figure of the Second Punic War.