Download Punic Wars

Ancient Rome
Punic Wars
Carthage
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Carthage controlled most of Mediterranean
Also had greatest navy in region
Gained wealth from plundering victims
Carthage was a threat to Rome’s security
First Punic War 264-241
• Carthage controlled Sicily
• Sicilians revolt and Rome helps
• Ends in a stalemate howevever,
– Carthage loses sea superiority to Rome
– Carthage gives up Sicily and pays Rome for cost
– Was it really a stalemate??
Hannibal and Second Punic War
• Carthage regroups and expands Spanish
empire under Hannibal
• Rome tells Carthage not to cross Ebro River
• Hannibal crosses river, takes most of Northern
Italy, beginning the Second Punic War (218)
• Roman leader Quintus Fabius Maximus avoids
open war with Hannibal, still losses mount up
• Hannibal attacks at Cannae
End of 2nd Punic War
• After Cannae Hannibal destroys Roman
countryside, was this smart??
• Decimates his supplies and wears down the
army
• 211, they march to Rome and cannot win
• Scipio and Rome rebound taking Spain and
Africa
• Hannibal had one final stand at Zama but lost
Results of 2nd Punic War
• Carthage and all its beauty and wealth
becomes a province of Rome
• Hannibal’s allies are attacked and brutally
defeated
• Rome is the new “world” power
3rd Punic War 149-146
• Rome conquers Greece
• Attempted Genocide of Carthaginians
– Senate calls for extinction of Carthagians
– When they refuse to leave they are slaughtered
– Those not killed were sold as slaves
– Harbor destroyed
– Salt spread over farmlands to make them useless