The Expansion of Rome

The Punic Wars

Targets

1. Identify the causes and effects of the Punic

Wars

2. Identify the key leaders, battles, and the impact

of the Punic Wars.

The Punic Wars Rome vs. Carthage

Fought for control over the Mediterranean

Fought on and off for over 100 years (3 separate Punic Wars)

“Punic” comes from the Latin word Punicus or Phoenician.

The 1st Punic War (264-241 B.C.)

Fought for control of Sicily

Carthage controlled Sicily

What is the main military strength of Carthage?

1st Punic War con’t

Romans captured a

Carthaginian ship and

used it as a model

Built their own fleet (120

ships)

Quadrareme

Romans eventually won

“Pyrrhic Victory”

Carthage sued for peace

Effects of the 1st Punic War

Did gain control of Sicily

The 2nd Punic War (218-201 B.C.)

Fought for control of Spain

Romans were concerned

about the Spain

Encouraged town of

Saguntum to resist

Carthage complained but

Rome ignored them

Carthage destroyed

Saguntum

Rome Declares war

Hannibal

Leader of Carthage

Great military leader

Romans hoped to hold Hannibal in Spain with their ships then attack Carthage itself

Hannibal had other ideas

Hannibal’s Plan

Advanced into Italy

by land

Marched across the

Pyrenees Mountains

into Gaul

40,000 soldiers

8,000 horses

37 elephants

War Elephant

Hannibal’s Plan con’t He marched across the Alps

Only ½ of his man and a few elephants survived

Hannibal in Italy

Even though he lost half of his men and many animals…Hannibal still was willing to fight

Fought the Romans at Placentia

Won!

Continued to win battles in Italy

“Fabian Strategy”

Lake Trasimene

Battle of Cannae Roman Army (50,000) outnumbered Hannibal

Hannibal was a master tactician

Cannae

Results of Cannae

Romans lost 25,000

troops

Hannibal lost only 5,700

Most devastating defeat

that the Romans ever

suffered

Romans did not give up

Able to raise new forces

to continue the struggle

Threat to Rome?

Hannibal continues to

threaten Rome itself

Rome changed tactics

Gathered an army and

attacked Spain

Diverted forces intended for

Hannibal

Then the Romans raised an

army and attacked Carthage

Hannibal was force to leave

Italy

Hannibal vs. Scipio

Roman General Scipio

Fought Hannibal in

North Africa

Battle of Zama

50 miles South of

Carthage

Scipio defeats Hannibal

Hannibal escapes

Results of the 2nd Punic War

Peace

1. Spain given to Rome

Carthaginians allowed to

keep original territory in

Africa

Cannot make war with

out Roman Permission

The 3rd Punic War (149-146 B.C.)

Carthage recovered

Under Hannibal, they

prospered

Group of anti-Carthaginian

Romans combined forces

with some in Carthage who

hated Hannibal

Pursued him

Hannibal killed himself rather

than be captured by the

Romans

Anti-Carthaginian Party

Even after Hannibal’s death they wanted more action against Carthage

Wanted to destroy Carthage

Cato the Censor

Carthage must be

destroyed!

Carthage

For 50 years they

carefully followed the

rules of the treaty

Masinissa kept

encroaching into

Carthaginian territory

Rome ignored the

complaint

Carthage declared war!

Destruction of Carthage

Blockaded the city

Starved them into submission

Burned the city

Plowed salt into the soil

Effects of the Punic Wars

Rome eliminates

economic competition

Becomes dominate force

in the Mediterranean

Rome becomes an

Empire!

Roman way of war is

proven