Download Second and Third Punic Wars

Fall of Carthage
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Hannibal continued to attack around Italy for
another decade, but the Romans returned to
the Fabian strategy and suffered no more
huge losses.
Gradually, Rome regained all of the major
cities in Italy and regained strength
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While Hannibal was still in Italy, Rome gathered
two armies of 20 000 and sent them to the
Iberian Peninsula (modern Spain) which was a
source of Hannibal’s military strength.
Control of Iberia was important to Hannibal: it
was a way to be supplied with men and a lifeline
if needed for food and retreat.
After suffering initial defeats, general Publius
Cornelius Scipio (the second one, later known as
Scipio Africanus) gained victories over the
Carthaginians. In 206 BC he forced Hannibal’s
brother Hamilcar to retreat to Italy and took
control of Iberia.
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Scipio used his popularity to gather an army
to invade Africa.
Carthage could either sue for peace in the
face of attack, or could summon Hannibal
back to defend. Their government was torn.
Hannibal returned to negotiate peace, but
negotiations failed. The Second Punic War
had to be decided by a final Battle.
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Hannibal had 36
000 infantry,
4000 cavalry and
80 elephants.
Scipio had 29 000
infantry, 6100
cavalry, mostly
Numidian allies.
Scipio had the
cavalry advantage
if he could beat
the elephants.
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His plan was to
let the
elephants
charge right
through, and
deal with them
at the back. It
worked.
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Hannibal ordered
his cavalry to
retreat when
attacked,
removing the
Roman cavalry
from battle.
This left the
infantry at a
stalemate more
or less. Each
general used
different but
equal strategies.
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The Roman
cavalry, having
defeated the
Carthaginian
cavalry away
from the battle,
returned and
attacked
Hannibal from
behind.
Hannibal’s army
was annihilated:
20 000 dead, 20
000 prisoners.
Romans lost a
few thousand.
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Rome hit Carthage with harsh terms designed
to prevent them from ever rising up again.
They had to pay an indemnity of 200 silver
talents every year for 50 years.
In addition to payment, Carthage had to ask
permission to declare war, and Rome decided
any border disputes between Carthage and
Numidia.
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In 151, the 50 years of payments was over.
Carthage thought the treaty ended. Rome
thought that the war and border clauses were
permanent.
When Numidia raided Carthage and they
defended themselves, Rome called it a
violation of the treaty. They used it as
grounds to make petty demands on Carthage
such as more payment and retreat from the
city of Utica in Africa.
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Carthage eventually refused to negotiate with
Rome on the new terms after defending from
attack.
In 149 BC, Rome placed Carthage under siege.
Carthage managed to repel them until 146 when
Rome finally broke through and attacked the city.
Only 50 000 citizens survived the siege and the
final attacks. All were sold into slavery.
The Romans destroyed the city and burned it
down. The area was turned into farmland and
annexed to Rome, as were all of the cities that
belonged to Carthage’s empire.