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Punic Wars
Roman Expansion
• After the defeat of Tarquin
the Etruscans were kicked
out, Rome began forming
alliances with its neighbours.
• Soon, they spread their
influence and conquered the
rest of Italy.
• They also started to conquer
regions to the north.
To keep peace and control conquered
lands, the Romans:
• Made everyone citizens and gave them rights
• Made them use Latin and follow Roman laws,
BUT could also keep their traditions and follow
their own religion.
In return, the Romans would:
• Establish military colonies
• Construct roads, water systems etc.
• Raise the standard of living
Carthage in North Africa was
a power naval empire which
was expanding.
Rome and Carthage were never
friends. Rome realized that Carthage
was in control of 3 of its
neighbouring islands.
Too close for
Roman comfort!
It would interfere
with trade.
Rome decided
Carthage should
join their republic.
1st Punic War (264 – 241 BCE)
• Carthage didn’t want to join
Rome, so they fought for 23 years.
• To stop the fighting, Carthage
offered Rome the island of Sicily.
• Rome took it…and Sardinia and
Corsica.
• Carthage was furious, but
but they were tired of
fighting Rome.
• Instead they attacked Spain
to make up for lost territory.
• General Hamilcar Barca
and his son, Hannibal, went
to Spain. The son promised
his father that one day he
would get revenge on Rome!
This promise began the legendary military
career of …
Hannibal
Over the following
years, Hannibal Barca
became a strong
leader.
A few years after the
death of his father, he
was named the new
GENERAL! He was 26
years old!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-7RwmL4Cjg
Hannibal
• Conquered Spain
• He attacked some
“friends of Rome” in
Spain
• Rome decided to get
involved to limit
Carthaginian
expansion and protect
their trade interests.
This was fine with Hannibal:
Punic War TAKE two!
• In the years leading up to the first Punic War,
Roman’s realized that their army was very
strong on land, but not sea.
• They invented the “Raven” or Corvus, a
bridge which allowed soldiers onto enemy
boats to battle on deck.
This allowed them to fight as if they were on
land.
corvus
The Second Punic War 218 BCE-202BCE
• 218 BCE – Romans became suspicious of
Carthage’s growing influence in the
Mediterranean.
• Hannibal was on a mission - wanted to capture
Rome – he captured even more cities on the
Spanish coast
• “Sneaky plan” – a sudden invasion on the Italian
peninsula from the north – Romans thought they
were safe due to the towering Alps.
• Hannibal attacked by land (instead of sea) with 60
elephants, 40,000 infantry, 8,000 cavalry.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gbPIyCuGTA
Crippling Peace... for now…
• In the end, Hannibal won many battles but after
11 years of fighting Romans were able to win the
Battle of Zama – Hannibal’s only defeat in his
military career.
• Surrendering it’s fleet and empire, Carthage asked
for peace. It signed a peace treaty and agreed to
pay Rome 10 000 talents 50 times a year.
• Hannibal fled and committed suicide.
Third Punic War: 149-146 BCE
• Carthage violated the peace treaty with Rome by
building up its military.
• Furious, Rome decided they must be destroyed
once and for all.
• Rome destroyed Carthage once and for all: robbed
and burned the city, killed and enslaved the
people, and salted the earth so nothing would
ever grow again!
The Effects of the Punic Wars
1. Rome had an empire, with territories in North
Africa, Spain, Gaul, and Italy
2. Much of the empire felt UNIFIED.
3. Senate had gained even more power throughout
the wars.
4. Slaves from conquered lands took the work from
the poor labourers and farmers.
5. New cultures started to influence Rome.
6. Greece had fought with Carthage as an ally…now
Rome started to look East.
7. Rome became the MOST powerful nation
8. Controlled Sicily, Corsica, Spain, and North Africa
9. By 120’s BCE – it controlled parts of Gaul (France),
Greece, and parts of Asia
10. Very influenced by Greek literature, art,
philosophy, religion, and education
Rome won…and went on to conquer the rest of
the Mediterranean world.
Punic Wars Vocabulary
• Carthage
• Tunisia
• empire
• Punic War
• Navy
• Sicily
• Greek
• Carthaginian
• territory
• Hannibal
• The Alps
• Invasion
• Second Punic
War
• Mediterranean
• Roman General
• Roman Senate
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destruction
gravel
cement
drainage
legion
century
Three Wars
Answer the following questions for each of the Punic Wars
1. How long did the war last?
2. What led to the break out of wars?
3. What was the outcome of the wars?
4. Name any important people mentioned.