Transcript The Punic Wars

The Punic Wars!
• Rome Vs. Carthage in the 200’s B.C
Broad st.
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The Punic Wars
Rome vs. Carthage
Carthage: The Punici
Carthage, a city on the north coast of
Africa was one of the richest and most
powerful cities in the Mediterranean
area. They conquered the coast of the
Iberian peninsula and the majority of
Sicily by 300 B.C.. Competition for
trading partners between the
Carthaginians and Romans made the
two sides rivals. The Mediterranean
would prove to be too small for the
two powers. Since, the Romans
referred to the Carthaginians as the
Punici, the conflict between the two
would be known as the Punic Wars.
Carthaginian
Soldier
Carthage Expands: The First
Punic War
Carthage caused a major
conflict with Rome in 264
B.C. when they tried to seize
the Strait of Messina, a thin
waterway in between the
island of Sicily and the Italian
Peninsula. This action would
lead to the first Punic War.
The Strait Of Messina
was an important Trade
route, and thus would
cause conflict between
the two side.
The First Punic War
Rome’s Army was superior to the
Carthaginian army, and won key land
victories in Sicily. However, Carthage
still held an overall advantage because of
their superior navy. However Rome was
able to build a fleet and adapted to naval
combat. Through tactics that included
boarding the Carthaginian ships and
fighting them as they would have on
land, were able to defeat Carthage’s fleet.
Carthage’s forces would eventually
retreat back to Africa in 241 B.C. and
would agree to pay Rome for the
damages they caused.
Relief Depicting The
Roman Navy
The Second Punic War
Hannibal: Rome’s Public
Enemy #1
Carthage would recover from its
defeat. A young General named
Hannibal took control of the
Carthaginian army in 221 B.C.,
and began to act aggressively
towards Rome, conquering a
Roman colony at Saguntum in
219 B.C. on the Iberian
Peninsula. He would come up a
risky plan for attacking Rome.
Hannibal’s Invasion
In 219 B.C., rather than a naval
invasion, Hannibal decided to
put together a huge army of
40,000 men (including 40
elephants) and invade Rome
from the north. This daring
move required Hannibal to
cross the very cold and very
high Alps mountains. The
Alps took their toll on
Hannibal’s troops costing him
half of his men and almost all
of his elephants.
Hannibal and his Elephants
Brave the Elements
The Punic Wars
Rome vs. Carthage
Scipio successfully defends
Rome
Hannibal’s surviving troops were able to defeat the Romans
in a number of key battles on the Peninsula. Hannibal was
an extremely talented leader and won battles despite being
outnumbered and poorly equipped. By 216 B.C,. after a
victory at the Battle of Cannae, Hannibal’s army had
become a major threat to Rome. Rome would rally under
the general Scipio, attack the city of Carthage, and force
Hannibal to return to defend his city. In 202 B.C., Scipio’s
forces would finally defeat Hannibal at the battle of Zama.
Rome would again seize Carthaginian colonies and force
them to pay Rome for damages.
Rome on the Attack: The Third
Punic War
After over 50 years of peace, Rome
decided that the threat Carthage
posed was too great. They decided
to expand their power in the
Mediterranean by eliminating
Carthage. This began the third Punic
War in 149 B.C.. In 146 B.C.,
Rome invaded Carthage, defeated
their army, burned the city, sold
survivors into slavery. They
decided to pour salt in the ground of
the city to make sure that crops
could not be grown, ensuring that
Carthage could not rise again to
challenge the Romans.
Cato the Elder was a
Roman who urged
constantly for the
Destruction of Carthage.
Results
After defeating Carthage in the Punic Wars,
Rome was the unrivaled power in the
Mediterranean. Rome was now free to
expand across the Mediterranean. Rome’s
wealth increased greatly as they were now
able to expand their trade. In addition it
would be Roman traditions, culture, and
thought that would be the major influence in
the area for the years that followed.