Transcript The Punic Wars

The Punic Wars
The Spread of Roman
Boundaries and Culture : The
Punic Wars
Ancient Rome Unit
The Punic Wars
 Roman
Republic threatened
by Carthage.
 Carthage wanted to
conquer Sicily.
 Rome fights for Sicily as
well as the empire Carthage
had built across North
Africa.
 Wanted it for territory and
trade markets
 1st of 3 wars against
Carthage, known as Punic
Wars 264-146 BC.
Bottom line motivations for war
 Carthage
 $Money$
 Carthage
is more like a
business than an
empire.
 Carthage Inc.™
 Rome
was threatened
that Carthage was too
close.
 They needed to keep
their empire together.
 They could not be
embarrassed by the
Carthaginians.
1st Punic War
264 – 241 BC
Romans wanted
to
protect Sicily and
expand trade
markets.
Rome develops 1st
Navy for this war.
Rome defeats
Carthage and wins
control of Sicily and
Sardinia.
Technology that helped the
Romans win
 Romans
developed
technology that
played to their
strengths.
Corvus
http://www.biblehistory.com/rome/cor
vus.gif
2nd Punic War
218
– 202 BC
Carthage wants revenge from 1st war.
Hannibal - General from Spain (Carthage
colony) creates army, leads attack
He uses ELEPHANTS and cuts through
the Alps!!
Hannibal wins almost all battles, but fails
to conquer city of Rome. (basically roams
the Italian countryside, CANNOT turn
public opinion of Italian countryside.)
Scipio : A Worthy Opponent
Scipio is a student of Hannibal and is
the first that can fight him head on.
 He gambles and decides to attack
Carthage, forcing Hannibal to return to
defend his homeland.
 Scipio and Hannibal meet at the Battle
of Zama.
 Romans win; Carthage must give up all
territories except those in North
Africa
 Carthage will face severe military
limitations.

http://www.ancientworlds.net/aworlds_media/ibase_1/00/05/4
3/00054371_000.gif
3rd Punic War
 149
– 146 BC
 Carthage is no longer a
threat but Romans
decide they need to
destroy it.
 Rome attacks
Carthage and
completely destroys it.
 Legend says, Romans
poured salt over
ground so nothing
would ever grow in
Carthage again.
After the Punic Wars
Next
100 years, Rome
dominates Mediterranean
area and spreads culture.
If had Carthage won, their
culture would have spread
across the region.
Finally, Romans expand trade
and wealth because of
victories over Carthage.
Rome as an Imperial
Power
Imperialism
– domination over foreign
lands and people
Rome expands by taking Greece,
Macedonia, and parts of Asia.
Egypt becomes an alliance.
Romans have now transformed into an
Empire; this challenges the Republic
form of government
Impact on People of
Rome
After
Punic Wars, wealthy bought
great amounts of land and made
them big estates called Latifunda.
Began farming as a business –
forced slaves and prisoners to work
land
Poor farmers fall into debt because
can’t compete with Latifunda;
forced to sell land.
The Unemployed
Farmers
who lost land often went
looking for jobs in city of Rome.
Never enough jobs
This poor unemployed class becomes
known as Proletariat.
These people will become homeless,
frustrated, and rebellious.
Poor vs. Rich
Gap
in wealth deeply
divides the people.
Corruption in
government also grows.
Bring on the Gracchi!!!
Gracchi – brothers
Tiberius and Gaius
Gracchus = Tribunes
Both sought reforms,
however both were
murdered.
Rebellion in Rome
Spartacus
- Slave who led revolt in 73
BC against Rome.
Revolt crushed in 2 years; Spartacus
was crucified
Generals continued to fight each
other for control until civil war
eventually forced Republic to become
Roman Empire.