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Transcript
THE PUNIC WARS CONTENT SOURCE: RONALD MELLOR & MARNI MGEE THE ANCIENT ROMAN WORLD, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2004, p41 to 46 Source: http://www.pinterest.com/razvannicu/history/ What were the Punic Wars? Two very long battles between the Carthaginians (in Africa) and Rome. Who were the Carthaginians? They were seafaring people who left their homeland in Phoenicia (modern day Lebanon) around 800 BCE. They set up colonies in North Africa and Spain and also on the island of Sicily. The City of Carthage The most powerful Phoenician colony was the North African City of Carthage. It became a busy trading post for merchants from all over the Mediterranean World. In time Carthage gained independence from its mother country, conquered other Phoenician colonies and founded colonies of its own. By the 3rd century BCE, this thriving and wealth city controlled trade across the western Mediterranean. Why was there conflict between Rome & Carthage? Like two bullies on the same playground, Rome and Carthage both wanted to be the power in the western Mediterranean world. They both wanted to dominate the fertile island of Sicily and control trade at the straits of Messina – between Sicily and the Italian mainland. What advantage does Carthage have over Rome? At this period in history Carthage was wealthier and had a much better navy. Conflict begins in Sicily 264BC Conflicts starts when the Sicilian city of Messina asks Rome to help it fight against Syracuse – another city in Sicily. Then Syracuse asked Carthage to join it, in its fight against Messina & Rome. A series of wars ranged, on and off, for a century with these two military alliances fighting against one another Why are they called the Punic Wars? They are called the Punic Wars, from the Latin word for Phoenicia. The enemies fought each other in Italy, Spain, Sicily and North Africa. The First Punic War: Battles at Sea. At the beginning of the First Punic War, the Romans had no navy, only trading ships. They didn’t even know how to fight at sea – they only knew how to fight on land. Rome Invents a Grappling Machine for Sea Battles The Romans invented a grappling machine that made sea battles more like land battles. The machine had huge hooks with heavy ropes attached. The Roman solider-sailors lobbed the hooks over the side of an enemy ship. The hooks bit into the other ship, holding it while Romans pulled it up beside their own. With the enemy’s ship locked in place, the Romans scrambled aboard and fought hand to hand on deck. This technique gave the Romans a fighting chance at sea. The First Punic War In 241 BC, a Roman Commander attacked the Carthaginian fleet of 170 ships. Despite stormy seas, Rome sank 50 enemy ships and captured 70 more. What was left of the Carthaginian fleet sailed home defeated. When the ships arrived in their home port, the commander was executed. The Results of the First Punic War After 23 years of battle, the first Punic War comes to an end. Rome controlled Sicily and dominated the western Mediterranean. A harsh peace treaty is opposed on Carthage. First Punic War: Peace Treaty Rome demanded that Cartage pay 80 tons of silver – this was equal to a years pay for 200,000 Roman soldiers. The city had to find some way to pay this huge bill. Carthage conquers the territory of modern day Spain In order to pay its debt to the Romans, Carthage looked for new lands to conquer. Carthage sent its top general, Hamilcar Barca to Spain. His assignment was to conquer the region and develop the silver and copper mines there. Hamilcar took his son, Hannibal to Spain with him, and he did his job well. He sent money and goods back to Cartage. A new leader for Carthage: Hannibal When Hamilcar died, the 26 year old Hannibal took over the job. Like his father, Hannibal considered Spain to be his territory He believed Carthage should be the power in this region. Roman Alliance with Spanish City of Saguntum When Rome made an alliance with the Spanish city of Saguntum, Hannibal fought back and fulfilled the promise he made as a boy – to be the sworn enemy of Rome Hannibal blocked the trade routes in and out of Saguntum: all supplies of food and military aid would not reach the city. The Fall of Saguntum laids the groundwork for the Second Punic War After 8 months, Saguntum fell to Hannibal’s warriors. And in 218 BC Rome declared war on Carthage again – The second Punic war had begun. The Second Pubic Wars: Strategy The Romans planned to invade Spain and fight Hannibal there. However, Hannibal decided to surprise Rome and invade Italy first. Hannibal’s Long March to Rome The journey towards Rome took five months, beginning with a long journey across France. Then Hannibal led his soldiers through the Alps. He lost one third of his men during the icy mountain crossing. However, Hannibal was not deterred and he marched on with men, horse and war elephants. War Ready Elephants: Hannibal’s African elephants were decorated for battle and painted in bright colors. Their trucks were usually red. Swords were attached to tusks. Some carried towers on their backs. These small fortresses protected the soldiers riding inside as they shot arrows and hurdled stones at their Roman enemies. Second Punic Wars The Battle of Lake Trebia The Romans first faced Hannibal’s elephants a the Battle of Lake Trebia in northern Italy in 218BC. Most Italians have never seen Elephants before and their size alone, must have been terrifying. The Roman horses and many soldiers too panicked at the site and smell of these creatures. Second Punic Wars The Battle of Lake Trasimene Hannibal showed his cleverness at the Battle of Trasimene in Central Italy in 217BC. Pretending to march against Rome itself, he lured the Romans into a narrow pass and ambushed them from the hills. Hannibal’s troops won a major victory over Rome at this location. Second Punic Wars The Battle of Cannae A year later in 216 BC, Hannibal conquered the Roman Troops again in the Battle of Cannae in southern Italy, thanks to a powerful cavalry and brilliant battle plan. Hannibal commanded the soldiers fighting in the center to retreat – to move back as if they were losing. The Roman fell for Hannibal trick and followed. Then the Carthaginians fighting on the flanks closed in on the Romans and surrounded them – they were trapped. Second Punic Wars The Battle of Cannae: Devastating Outcome For Rome Rome lost nearly 60,000 soldiers. Another 10,000 were captured. Only 6000 Carthaginians were killed. Hannibal’s Reputation Whenever a Roman watchman thought he spotted an army approaching the city his cry “Hannibal ad portas” (Hannibal at the gates) would echo through the streets. Rome Plans a New Fight Back Strategy The terrible defeat at Cannae became a new turning point for Rome. More and more men joined the Roman Army and wealthy citizens gave generously to the war effort. The Senate’s New War Plan The leaders in the Senate decided not to meet Hannibal in fixed battles, but to let him wear himself out in smaller battles in the countryside. Rome’s new battle plan worked. Carthaginian troops became exhausted. Hannibal’s Soldiers had been in Italy for 10 years and Carthage refused to send fresh troops. The Romans Recapture Spain When the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio took charge of the Roman force in Spain, he cut off Hannibal’s supplies of food and equipment. The Roman finally drove the Carthaginians out of Spain in 206BC Then they invaded North Africa and the town of Zama to the southwest of Carthage. The Final Battle Between Rome & Carthage: The Battle of Zama Hannibal faced Scipio in the fierce battle of Zuma in 202 BC. At Zama, Scipio ordered his soldiers to attack Hannibal’s frontline elephants with spears and arrows. The elephants panicked and turned back, crashing into the soldiers behind them. Scipio killed almost all the Carthaginians, but Hannibal survived. Under Roman pressure, he fled Carthage and spent his last 15 years in exile. The Final Peace Settlement & Ultmate Destruction of Carthage Carthage was forced to surrender all its possession in Europe. Rome gave Scipio, the honorary title – “Africanus” the conqueror of Africa Carthage never threatened Rome again, but many Romans still feared the revival of a Carthage threat. Therefore in 146BC a decision was made by Rome to finally destroy Carthage – Rome’s last opponent in the western Mediterranean. Rome was the dominant power on the land and sea – it would remain that wait for 500 years.