Chapter 6:ii (part one-Punic Wars) Expansion and Crisis

(Image source: Gino Galuppini, Warships of the World, An Illustrated Encyclopedia, Time Books, Random House, 1996.) To protect themselves, Rome either conquered or allied with their neighbors.

Most of Rome’s success in expansion was attributed to their warfare styles. The backbone of their army was the Legion, organized around smaller groups than other traditional armies.

In the army, discipline was harsh and the men were well trained. They treated conquered people very well, often allowing them to keep their own governments.

The First Punic War: BC

Carthage Carthage, on the North African coast, threatened to seize the Straits of Messina and cut off Roman trade. When Rome sent a force to secure it, a full scale war erupted.

Carthage held their own until Rome developed new naval tactics and forced Carthage to pay an indemnity ($ cash money) to end the war.

In 221 BC, a young Carthiginian general named Hannibal captured a Spanish town that had been allied with Rome. He then took the new war into Italy. Second Punic War: BC Stylin’ and profilin’!

Hannibal lost half of his 40,000 men and 39 of his 40 elephants to cold, attacks, hunger, and sickness as he crossed the Alps.

For more than 20 years, Hannibal ravaged the Italian peninsula, defeating many Roman armies. Finally the Roman General Scipio Africanus forced Hannibal to return to Africa by attacking Carthage.

By forcing Hannibal to fight where he was not prepared to fight, Scipio defeats him at Zama, near Carthage, ending the 2nd Punic War.

Third Punic War: 152 BC 50 years later, Rome decided to force war on Carthage to finally destroy their mortal enemy. “Carthago delenda est!!”