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Essay On The Second Punic War

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Essay On The Second Punic War
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What were the outcomes of the second Punic War? After 100 of years of war (First and Second Punic War) and several hundred thousand lives lost, the Punic War culminated with a battle of wits between Hannibal and Scipio. According to Mark, neither of the opposing generals had lost a battle before facing each other at Zama in North Africa, 202 B.C.

Scipio studied Hannibal’s tactics and strategized Hannibal would leave Rome and come back to defend his homeland if the Romans could prove a significant threat to the Carthaginian defenses. Scipio’s plan worked. Hannibal was recalled, leaving Italy and relinquishing all the territory he had gained when crossing the Alps. Hannibal met Scipio at Zama about 50 miles outside of Carthage (Mark, 2011).

Scipio’s brilliant strategy
…show more content…
Scipio allowed Carthage to retain her colonies at the tip of North Africa but she had to give up her navy. She was able to keep some of her merchant ships for trade and had to pay Rome 200 talents annually (approximately 250,000 Dollars) for fifty years (Morey, 1901)

The biggest lost was her territory in the Mediterranean. The following map from the Ancient History Encyclopedia, illustrates the significant reduction in territory. As the legend indicates shades of blue and purple, represent the Carthaginian Empire including Spain (Green) at the beginning of the Second Punic War. After the Hannibal’s defeat, Carthage lost all but her homeland at that tip of North Africa the purple region. (Carthage during the Punic Wars, 2012) Map of the Carthaginian Empire and its losses after the Second Punic War.

The Carthaginian lost was of course Rome’s gain. After the Punic wars, Rome proved to be competent warriors at sea as well as on land. The outcome of the Punic Wars was Rome was now the dominant super power in the Mediterranean and had wealth, intelligence and military power to do whatever they wanted.

-- Valerie

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