Download 3.4 Punic Wars

The Punic Wars
CHW 3M
Carthage
• one of five world superpowers during Roman Republic
• descendant of Phoenicians (Punic)
• ruled by oligarchy of rich merchants
• dominate navy
• controlled trading routes in Mediterranean
Life was harsh in Carthage for the common people
• human sacrifice was common
• no political rights
The army was made up of
an unruly mass of
conscripted subjects from
around the empire.
There was uncertain glory
for the commander
Success  fame and riches
Failure  crucifixion
The First Punic War
In 264 BC the first Punic War began after Rome and Carthage stepped in to solve a
dispute on the island of Sicily. To win, Rome would have to defeat the powerful
Carthaginian Navy but the Romans had few ships and no experience fighting at
sea.
The Romans found a stranded Carthaginian
warship and used it to build there own navy.
• added a corvus
•Allowed sea battles to become “land battles”
260 BC – first meeting of Roman navy
meets the Carthaginian armada off the
coast of Mylae, Sicily.
Carthaginian causalities ships lost
• 44 ships
• 10000 men
Sensing Victory Rome
• began huge ship building program
• invaded North Africa
Carthaginians
• won crushing victories at home
• constructed a lighter faster fleet
• began other conquest in Africa
Carthaginians regained control of the sea
and established colony in Sicily. However
Punic War took a back seat to their African
conquest and Rome finally won the first
Punic War in 241BC when they sank 50
Carthaginian ships and sank 70 more off
the coast of Sicily.
1. Sicily became first overseas province of Rome  wheat
2. Rome has dominant Navy in Mediterranean
3. Carthage pays reparations, deepens resentment of Rome
The Second Punic War
Looking to expand their empire the
Carthaginians invaded Spain. In 219 BC
they attacked the Spanish city of
Saguntum, a Roman Alley, provoking the
Second Punic War.
Hannibal
• key figure in 2nd Punic War
• brilliant Carthaginian stratigest and commander
Hannibal was convinced that Rome’s allies
were ready to be liberated and by invading
Italy not only would they catch the Roman’s
by surprise but they could isolate Rome from
the rest of Italy.
Crossing the Alps
Hannibal left Spain for Italy with
• 38000 loyal troops
• 8000 cavalry
• 37 war elephants
To reach Italy the Carthaginian would
have to cross to mountain ranges, the
Pyrenees and the Alps.
Hannibal would arrive in Italy with
• 20000 loyal troops
• 6000 cavalry
• a handful of war elephants
Hannibal caught the
imagination of the world and
formed a new alliance with the
Gauls
For the next 15 years Hannibal would win
battle after battle and occupy large
amounts of Roman land, even coming
within sight of Rome itself. Major battles
included
• Trebia
• Lake Trasimene
• Cannae
Trebia
The Romans amassed an army of 40000
men. Hannibal sent a weak cavalry into the
Roman camp in early morning. After
defeating the cavalry the Romans charged
into the ice cold river and Hannibal's trap.
• Romans ambushed
• Lost half their men
Lake Trasimene
Carthaginians ambushed the Romans in hills
surrounding Lake Trasimene. In two hours 15000
Romans were dead and the rest were captured.
• panic swept Rome
• Fabius Maximus made dictator of Rome
Quintus Maximus let Hannibal forces wander
through Italy at will as he was waiting patiently
for the perfect time to attack. Eventually
Quintus Maximus was thrown out of office
Cannae
Hannibal used a crescent formation to
complete surround the Roman Legion. 25000
Romans killed to only 5700 Carthaginians.
• Hannibal takes control of Southern Italy
Hannibal was never able to gain control of
• Northern/Central Italy  alleys stayed loyal
• Rome  didn’t have siege weapons
The Balance Shifts
A young Roman commander, Scipio,
• attacks and takes control Carthage’s Spanish territory
• defeats Handrusal (Hannibal’s brother) at Metaurus
• stops Carthaginians reinforcements
Scipio convinced the Roman government of they were to defeat Carthage they
would have to take the fight to Carthage itself. So a force of 30000 Romans sailed
to North Africa with Hannibal still in Italy
• defeat Carthage
• Hannibal returns to Carthage
Zama
Scipio was not to be tricked by Hannibal this
time. Hannibal escaped but the
Carthaginian army was destroyed. The
Roman victory at Zama would bring about
an end of the Second Punic War. The price
of defeat for Carthage was high
• only regained control over Tunisia
• must have Rome’s permission to make war
• 10000 talent every year for 50 years
Despite being dominated for most of the Second Punic War Rome was victorious. Why?
• Hannibal couldn’t capture Rome  no siege equipment
• not enough Italian allies joined Hannibal
• Hannibal was unable to get reinforcement
• the Romans never gave up
The end of the Second Punic war also marked the beginning of Imperialistic Rome