The Punic WarsThe Punic Wars

Rome v. Carthage, 264-146 Rome v. Carthage, 264-146 BCBC

Carthage was a colony of the Carthage was a colony of the Phoenicians and controlled much of the Phoenicians and controlled much of the island of Sicilyisland of Sicily

Main cause of Punic Wars was Main cause of Punic Wars was competition for Mediterranean tradecompetition for Mediterranean trade

Control of SicilyControl of Sicily

Advantages Advantages Carthage Carthage RomeRome Large SizeLarge Size Huge navyHuge navy Great wealth from Great wealth from

tradetrade Mercenary armyMercenary army (paid soldiers who (paid soldiers who

might not be loyal might not be loyal to Carthage)to Carthage)

Smaller army of Smaller army of loyal citizen loyal citizen soldierssoldiers

Warfare their Warfare their specialty specialty

Recent success Recent success controlling the controlling the Italian peninsulaItalian peninsula

11stst Punic War - 264 to 241 Punic War - 264 to 241 BCBC

Fought for control of Sicily & the Fought for control of Sicily & the MediterraneanMediterranean

Most battles at sea Most battles at sea - Carthage had - Carthage had superior navysuperior navy- Rome builds a navy - Rome builds a navy by copying shipwrecked by copying shipwrecked Carthaginian warshipCarthaginian warship

Results: Rome defeats Carthage & Results: Rome defeats Carthage & receives island of Sicilyreceives island of Sicily

The Corvus (Latin for “raven” The Corvus (Latin for “raven” or “crow”)or “crow”)

Crane/plank on a Crane/plank on a Roman ship that Roman ship that turned naval battle turned naval battle into a land battleinto a land battle

22ndnd Punic War - Punic War - 218 BC218 BC Carthaginian military genius HannibalCarthaginian military genius Hannibal Led 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, & 60 Led 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, & 60

elephants to invade & conquer Romeelephants to invade & conquer Rome Traveled through Traveled through

Spain, France, & Spain, France, & the Alps – lost half the Alps – lost half his men, elephantshis men, elephants

Strategy was to Strategy was to convince Roman convince Roman allies to join allies to join CarthageCarthage

22ndnd Punic War (Cont.) Punic War (Cont.) For 10 years, battled up and down the Italian For 10 years, battled up and down the Italian

peninsulapeninsula- Hannibal & his men lived off the land & by - Hannibal & his men lived off the land & by stealingstealing- Never able to capture Rome- Never able to capture Rome

Battle of CannaeBattle of Cannae

22ndnd Punic War (cont.) Punic War (cont.) Scipio – Roman general against HannibalScipio – Roman general against Hannibal

- Planned to invade Carthage to force - Planned to invade Carthage to force Hannibal to leave Italy & return to N. Hannibal to leave Italy & return to N. AfricaAfrica

Defeated Defeated Hannibal Hannibal in 202 BC – in 202 BC – Battle of Battle of ZamaZama

Battle of ZamaBattle of Zama

Hannibal and Scipio meet before the battle

Scipio Africanus

Hannibal

3rd Punic War: 149 to 146 3rd Punic War: 149 to 146 BCBC Cato “the Elder” of Rome – “Carthage should Cato “the Elder” of Rome – “Carthage should

be destroyed!”be destroyed!” Rome invades Carthage as revenge for Rome invades Carthage as revenge for

Hannibal’s invasion of ItalyHannibal’s invasion of Italy Carthage is seized & burned – 50,000 Carthage is seized & burned – 50,000

inhabitants are sold into slaveryinhabitants are sold into slavery

Rome dominates Mediterranean by 70 Rome dominates Mediterranean by 70 BCBC

East – conquered Macedonia, Greece, & East – conquered Macedonia, Greece, & AnatoliaAnatolia

West – as far as SpainWest – as far as Spain Republic dominates the . . . “known Republic dominates the . . . “known

world”world”