Transcript The Punic Warsx

ROME
Part I: The Punic Wars
The Punic Wars: 264-146 BCE
• “A lengthy and savage conflict fought between Rome and
Carthage for dominance of the entire Mediterranean Basin.”
• The longest running conflict in Ancient World
• Established Rome as dominant power of Mediterranean
Key Carthaginians
Hamilcar Barca
• led forces in Sicily during
1st Punic War
• Conquered Spain
Key Carthaginians
HANNIBAL BARCA
• son of Hamilcar, invaded Italy
in 2nd Punic War
• Crossed Alps into Italy
• Annihilated Romans at
Cannae
KEY ROMANS
QUINTUS FABIUS
– Respected enemy
– Used “small war” tactics to
harass enemy
– Bought time for Rome
– Romans ripped his “inglorious”
tactics
• Fabian Strategy: wear down enemy by avoiding
major confrontations
KEY ROMANS
Tarentius Varro
– Hothead whose leadership led to annihilation of
Romans at Cannae
KEY ROMANS
• SCIPIO AFRICANUS
– Conquered Spain from Carthage
– defeated Hannibal at Zama in
2nd Punic War
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CATO
Roman senator obsessed w/ destroying
Carthage in 3rd Punic War
1st Punic War: 264-241 BCE
• Carthage fights Rome for control of Sicily
– Considered “jewel of Mediterranean” due to strategic
location
• Rome builds fleet to defeat Carthage
– Used “corvus” to fight land battles at sea
– Wooden bridge with iron spike
• Rome gains Sicily, Carthage turns to conquer Spain
2nd Punic War: 218-201 BCE
• Carthage conquers Spain
– Rome threatened
• Hannibal goes on offensive
– crosses Alps
• Rome refuses surrender
• Scipio invades N. Africa
– Hannibal recalled
– Defeated by Scipio at Zama
Hannibal Crosses the Alps
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Goal: invade Italian peninsula and destroy Rome’s alliances
Crossed Arno River in Gaul
Left Spain, went through Gaul
Beat two Roman armies after crossing Alps
Battle of Cannae 216 BCE
• Hannibal’s most famous victory
• Hannibal’s army outnumbered 2 to 1
– Faced 85,000 Romans led by hot head Terentius
Varro
• Hannibal arranged forces in convex half-circle
• Romans charged middle in giant block
• Carthaginians enveloped Romans and
slaughtered 70,000
Battle of Zama 202 BCE
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Scipio invades N. Africa
Hannibal recalled to defend Carthage
Roman’s outnumbered by 10,000 men
Hannibal had 80 war elephants
Romans formed corridors and killed elephants
when they ran through
• As Carthaginians pushed forward, Roman
Numidi an cavalry charged from behind
3rd Punic War: 149-146 BCE
• Rome finds excuse to destroy Carthage
• Besiege city for 3 years
• Break through in 146 BCE
– 6 days of urban fighting
– Romans level houses to reach citadel
– 50,000 surrender and enslaved
– 900 Roman deserters fought until death
• Carthage razed to the ground