Roman History:The Punic Wars

Culture Lesson for Latin 2

Punic Wars

• Set of three wars between Rome and Carthage

• Carthage was an African colony for the Phoenicians, but became a power in its own right. Best known for its navy.

• “Punic” comes from poenicus-a-um, the Latin word for Carthaginians and Phoenicians

First Punic War• Began in 264 as a quarrel over the

Sicilian city of Messana. The Carthaginians were attacking, the citizens asked for Roman aid.

• Ends in 241 with Roman victory at sea, defeating the Carthaginians at the battle of the Aegates Islands

Notable Romans

• Regulus- led the Roman army to Africa and laid siege to Carthage, but was then captured

• Gaius Lutatius Catulus- Roman fleet commander at the battle of the Aegates Islands.

Notable Carthaginians

• Xanthippus- Spartan mercenary, he reorganized the Carthaginian forces and routed the Romans from Africa, capturing Regulus.

• Hamilcar Barca- Carthaginian aristocrat, he led a guerilla war against the Romans in Sicily and Italy. Initially successful, but not supported enough by his own people to win lasting victory

Important Battles

• Messana- first site of conflict in the war

• Mylae and Ecnomus- Sicilian towns, these battles took place in the sea off the coast of these towns. Rome’s first naval victories took place here.

• Aegates Islands- Also a naval battle, victory here forced a Carthaginian surrender and the recall of Hamilcar

Important Outcomes

• Rome takes control of Sicily, then later adds Corsica and Sardinia. These are Rome’s first non-Italian provinces

• Roman army takes to the sea for the first time, adapting land tactics to naval combat

• Carthage increases its presence in Spain, setting up the next war

Second Punic War

• Begins in 219 B.C. with Hannibal’s capture of Saguntum, a Spanish town and ally of Rome

• Ends in 201 B.C. after the battle of Zama on the plains outside of Carthage

• Saw great destruction in Italy and the defection of many Italians to Hannibal

Important Romans

• Q. Fabius Maximus- dictator during the war. Gained the name Cunctator (Delayer) for slowly destroying the Carthaginans rather than winning one big battle.

• P. Cornelius Scipio- retook Spain, then invaded Africa. Earned the name Africanus in honor of his many victories in Africa, including the defeat of Hannibal at Zama

Important Carthaginians

• Hannibal Barca- son of Hamilcar. Famous for crossing the Swiss Alps with his army and elephants. Won many battles against Rome on Italian soil, and was highly respected by Rome.

• Hasdrubal- brother of Hannibal, he led Carthaginian efforts in Spain. Died at the Metaurus River trying to bring Hannibal reinforcements.

Important Battles

• Saguntum- first battle, kicked off the war.

• Trebia River- First major Italian victory for Hannibal

• Lake Trasimene- Site of a successful morning ambush against the Romans

• Cannae- Rome’s worst defeat; between 70 and 80,000 men killed in one day

Important Battles Cont.

• Metaurus River- Roman victory over Hasdrubal. Prevented Hannibal from getting support from Spain, his best bet for help

• Zama- Last battle, with the Romans defeating the Carthaginians decisively. Hannibal encouraged Carthage to sue for peace following this battle

Important Outcomes

• End of Carthaginian presence in Spain, beginning of Roman occupation

• Rome’s presence in Africa via allies grows

• Carthaginian naval power destroyed, giving Rome uncontested control of the western Mediterranean

Wars with Macedonia

• Macedonian Empire sided with Carthage, raising Roman anger

• Engaged in three Macedonian wars between 215 and 167, eventually destroying the Macedonian Empire

• 146 B.C.- Greek revolt leads to the destruction of Corinth and the creation of provinces in Greece

Third Punic War

• Began in 149 B.C. when Carthage violated its peace treaty with Rome by arming and fighting their neighbors, the Numidians

• Romans invade Africa and trap Carthaginian troops in the city. Attempts at peace are made, but the war restarts when the citizens refuse to move their city away from the sea

Third Punic War Cont.

• From 149 to 146 B.C., Romans besiege Carthage but cannot successfully take the city

• Finally, in 146, the war effort is taken over by P. Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus, Successfully captures, then destroys, Carthage. Men killed, women and children led off in chains.

Important Romans

• Cato Maior (“the Elder”)- also called Cato the Censor for the office he was best known for holding. Encouraged final war with Carthage by ending all speeches with Carthago delenda est, “Carthage must be destroyed!”

• P. Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus- adopted son of Africanus and destroyer of Carthage. Also earned the name Africanus.

Important Outcomes

• Almost all Mediterranean in Rome’s hands

• Land holdings extend into Africa and Greece

• Way is open to the wealthy kingdoms of the East

• Roman dominance undeniable now. Rome is a superpower

Important Outcomes

• Victories overseas swell the slave population, provide cheap labor for Rome’s farms and cities

• Wealth from loot, tributes, and taxes enrich Rome and certain citizens, widening the have/have not gap

• Overseas provinces require new methods of governance

Important Outcomes

• Contact with and loot from Carthage and Greece begins a renaissance of art, architecture, and literature in Rome

• Rome no longer has a great rival in Carthage, no one to compete against

• Massive cultural shifts begin to take place in Rome and Italy, generating the causes that will turn Rome from Republic to Empire