Transcript Punic Wars
Punic Wars 246 BCE-146 BCE Founded by the Phoenicians (813 BCE) Began as a small port on the coast of Africa used to re-supply and repair ships Became the wealthiest and most powerful city in the Mediterranean before the creation of Rome Carthage Had the best navy in the Mediterranean Sea Carthage Summary of the Punic Wars Rome vs. Carthage Three wars Lasted 100 years Fought in Italy, Sicily, Spain & Carthage Ended with the destruction of Carthage Rome & Carthage Before the Wars Causes 1st Punic War: Sicily Italian city in Sicily was attacked City asked the Romans & Carthaginians for help Carthage arrived first but helped the enemy instead Carthage decided to conquer Sicily Romans declared war on Carthage to prevent them from gaining power Events Romans built a navy 1st Punic War: Sicily 260-256 BCE: Rome won two major battles before moving to attack Africa 241 BCE: Rome defeated Carthage at sea Results 1st Punic War: Sicily Rome conquered Carthage’s colonies in Sicily Sicily became Rome’s first overseas territory Carthage no longer had the most powerful navy & agreed to pay Rome for damages made during the war After the 1st Punic War Rome conquered Sardinia & Corsica (islands) Carthage conquered a large part of Spain Causes 2nd Punic War: Spain & Italy 221 BCE: Hannibal became the Carthaginian general in Spain Hannibal fought Rome’s allies in Spain to gain more power Gathered 40,000 troops, 12,000 cavalry (soldiers on horses) and 40 elephants to launch an attack on Rome Events 2nd Punic War: Spain & Italy Carthaginians marched through the Alps Won many battles in the beginning Romans elected a dictator to prevent Hannibal from entering the city of Rome 216 BCE: Romans were surrounded and defeated 207 BCE: Romans rebuilt their army & began attacking Carthage in Spain and Africa 203 BCE: Hannibal left Italy to protect Carthage from attack Events 2nd Punic War: Spain& Italy ½ of Carthage’s army died crossing the Alps Rome’s army was almost completely destroyed Carthage had to give Spain to the Romans & pay war damages Carthage’s empire was almost destroyed Causes 3rd Punic War: Africa Carthage became strong and wealthy again Romans saw Carthage as a threat 149 BCE: Carthage broke a peace treaty they made with Rome by attacking a Roman ally in Africa Rome declared war by sending troops to Africa to protect their ally Events 3rd Punic War: Africa Romans set up blockades on land and at sea to prevent the Carthaginian troops from moving or trading •146 BCE: Carthage was defeated Results 3rd Punic War: Africa Romans took Carthaginians as slaves, burned the city down and took Carthage as their property Rome conquered the Macedonians & created an empire than stretched from Spain to Asia Minor Rome gained total control over the Mediterranean