PUNIC WARSCarthage vs. Rome

Carthage

Powerful city Founded 8th century BCE Phoenician city

“Punic” is Latin for Phoenician Commercial empire

Harbor Sailing and trading Controlled trade in western Mediterranean

Major rival of Rome

Carthage

Navy Very large Phoenician sailing tradition

Army Mercenaries

Government Oligarchy

Wealthy elites rich through trade

Punic Wars

First Punic War (264-241 BCE) Fought over Sicily Rome won

Second Punic War (218-201 BCE) R challenged C expansion in Iberia (Spain) Rome won

Third Punic War (149-146 BCE) R feared C was becoming a threat again R attacked C and obliterated them Salt in the soil

First Punic War (264-241 BCE)

Fought over control of Sicily Strengths

Rome: army Carthage: navy

First Punic War (264-241 BCE)

Roman solution Build up its navy Four fleets, each destroyed

Rome’s new weapon Grappling hook

Pull ships together Hand-to-hand fighting Armies on water!

Rome won Sicily becomes province of Rome

Intermission

Rome Controlled Corsica and Sardinia Conquered the Gauls (France)

Carthage Recovered from its defeat by Rome Started expanding in Iberia

Second Punic War (218-201 BCE)

Carthage: General Hannibal Led 60,000 men and dozens of elephants to

Italy Fought in Italy for 15 years

Second Punic War (218-201 BCE)

Battle of Cannae (216 BCE) 80,000 Romans 40,000 Carthaginians C won with superior tactics

Second Punic War (218-201 BCE)

Battle of Metaurus (207 BCE) Pivotal battle of war Hasdrubal (Hannibal’s brother) was bringing

supplies for siege of Rome Consul Gaius Claudius Nero

Forced march from southern Italy Reinforced Consul Marcus Livius

C were outnumbered, Hasdrubal defeated Nero beheaded Hasdrubal, threw into

Hannibal’s camp

Second Punic War (218-201 BCE)

Hannibal could not capture Rome Rome: General Scipio

Led army against C in Iberia Then led army into Carthage Finally, returned to defend Rome

Battle of Zama (202 BCE) Hannibal’s first and only defeat H escaped and fled to Carthage

C lost its fleet, Iberia, and much of North Africa

Second Intermission

Carthage Rebuilt trading networks and commercial

power Rome

Felt threatened by competition from C Senator Cato: “Carthago delenda est!”

(“Carthage must be destroyed!”)

Third Punic War (149-146 BCE)

R made ridiculous demands of C: 300 noble children as hostages Destroy city of Carthage and rebuild away

from coast Carthage refused

Had no mercenaries Forced to defend their own city

Rome laid siege to Carthage Siege was successful Burned C to the ground, salt in the soil Men killed, women and children made slaves

Results of Punic Wars

Rome and Carthage were “superpowers” Rome was only remaining superpower Easier for Rome to conquer rest of

Mediterranean Roman control of Macedonia Conquered remnants of Alexander’s

empire Fighting among Greek city-states

Rome took over, ended Greek independence (146 BCE)

Provincial Governments

Conquered areas became Roman provinces

Proconsuls Governed each province Members of patrician class Often corrupt

Publicans Tax collectors Auctioned for job to become publican Squeezed as much money from conquered as

possible

Wealth of Rome

Money (taxes and war booty) and cheap goods flooded Rome Africa and Sicily – wheat Spain – silver and tine East – gems and luxury goods

Upper classes grew wealthier Lots of money for merchants and traders

Government had more money than ever Whoever controlled govt. controlled money Struggle for control of govt.

Roman Values

State Power Justice Duty Courage Law Dignity

Old Roman Values Diminish

Roman army Originally volunteers “Professional” army lacked fighting spirit

Moral and values Corruption

replaced dedication to public service (duty) Luxury

Replaced hard work, patriotism, simplicity

Roman Expansion

Pros Wealth

Trade Taxes

Power Control of Mediterranean

Cons Difficult to maintain an empire Wealth created new social classes

Slavery Problems led to end of republic, rise of empire

Rich get richer…

Money from govt. contracts High-interest loans Bribes and graft in provinces Farms operated by slaves

Poor farmers could not compete Wealthy class bought up lands of poor farmers Poor farmers flooded into Rome

Right to vote Unemployed masses supported politicians

who offered them “bread and circuses”