The Punic Wars

Rome v. Carthage, BC Carthage was a colony of the Phoenicians and controlled much of the island of Sicily Carthage was a colony of the Phoenicians and controlled much of the island of Sicily Main cause of Punic Wars was competition for Mediterranean trade Main cause of Punic Wars was competition for Mediterranean trade Control of Sicily Control of Sicily

Advantages CarthageRome Advantages CarthageRome Large Size Large Size Huge navy Huge navy Great wealth from trade Great wealth from trade Mercenary army Mercenary army (paid soldiers who might not be loyal to Carthage) (paid soldiers who might not be loyal to Carthage) Smaller army of loyal citizen soldiers Smaller army of loyal citizen soldiers Warfare their specialty Warfare their specialty Recent success controlling the Italian peninsula Recent success controlling the Italian peninsula

1 st Punic War to 241 BC Fought for control of Sicily & the Mediterranean Fought for control of Sicily & the Mediterranean Most battles at sea Most battles at sea - Carthage had superior navy - Rome builds a navy by copying shipwrecked Carthaginian warship Results: Rome defeats Carthage & receives island of Sicily Results: Rome defeats Carthage & receives island of Sicily

The Corvus (Latin for “raven” or “crow”) Crane/plank on a Roman ship that turned naval battle into a land battle Crane/plank on a Roman ship that turned naval battle into a land battle

2 nd Punic War BC Carthaginian military genius Hannibal Carthaginian military genius Hannibal Led 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, & 60 elephants to invade & conquer Rome Led 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, & 60 elephants to invade & conquer Rome Traveled through Spain, France, & the Alps – lost half his men, elephants Traveled through Spain, France, & the Alps – lost half his men, elephants Strategy was to convince Roman allies to join Carthage Strategy was to convince Roman allies to join Carthage

2 nd Punic War (Cont.) For 10 years, battled up and down the Italian peninsula For 10 years, battled up and down the Italian peninsula - Hannibal & his men lived off the land & by stealing - Never able to capture Rome

Battle of Cannae

2 nd Punic War (cont.) Scipio – Roman general against Hannibal Scipio – Roman general against Hannibal - Planned to invade Carthage to force Hannibal to leave Italy & return to N. Africa Defeated Hannibal in 202 BC – Battle of Zama Defeated Hannibal in 202 BC – Battle of Zama

Battle of Zama Hannibal and Scipio meet before the battle Scipio Africanus Hannibal

3rd Punic War: 149 to 146 BC Cato “the Elder” of Rome – “Carthage should be destroyed!” Cato “the Elder” of Rome – “Carthage should be destroyed!” Rome invades Carthage as revenge for Hannibal’s invasion of Italy Rome invades Carthage as revenge for Hannibal’s invasion of Italy Carthage is seized & burned – 50,000 inhabitants are sold into slavery Carthage is seized & burned – 50,000 inhabitants are sold into slavery

Rome dominates Mediterranean by 70 BC East – conquered Macedonia, Greece, & Anatolia East – conquered Macedonia, Greece, & Anatolia West – as far as Spain West – as far as Spain Republic dominates the... “known world” Republic dominates the... “known world”