Punic Wars Research Paper
The Punic Wars were 3 wars fought between Rome and Carthage that lasted from 264 to 146 B.C. The first Punic War lasted from 264-241 B.C. which was for 23 years. The second Punic War lasted 218-201 B.C.for 17 years. The third and final war lasted 49-146 B.C, for 3 years.
The first Punic War was fought over the control of Sicily and the Western Mediterranean. Since Rome was very agricultural they had an interest in Carthage, which was controlled more by sea power. In the first part of the war, Rome made an alliance with the town of Hieron in north-east Sicily. This was led by Claudius and Marcus Valerius Messalla in 263 BC. The Romans won more land in 262 BC with the towns of Segesta and Agrigentum. n 260 BC they defeated the Battle of the Lipari Islands . In 241 BC, Carthage signed a peace treaty under the terms of which they evacuated Sicily and paid Rome a large amount of money to settle for peace. The long war was costly to both powers, but Carthage was more severely struck. In 238 BC, Carthage suddenly fell into …show more content…
the Mercenary War,which Rome seized Sardinia and Corsica. Rome was now the most powerful state in the western Mediterranean,
The second Punic War was led by a brilliant military strategist known as Hannibal.
In 218 BC, Hannibal took control of the Greek city Saguntum, and set up a strong Carthaginian base there. Immediately after hearing the news of the first Punic War, Rome declared war on Carthage. From his new base Hannibal planned to march across the Pyrenees and the Alps in winter to surprise the Roman army with an attack. He then led his army through the wintry climate of the Alps. Hannibal lost over half of his men and most of his elephants due to the cold climate. He reached the Po River Valley with about 20,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, and a few elephants. However, Hannibal was able to increase the size of his army to about 30,000 by recruiting Gauls. Hannibal defeated the Roman legions in several battles, including the Battle of the Trebia, the Battle of Lake Trasimene and the Battle of Cannae. It ended with the Romans preventing Hannibal from capturing
Rome.
The third Punic War was the final war between Carthage and Rome. The war was a much smaller engagement than the two previous Punic Wars and but resulted in the complete destruction of the city of Carthage. In 149 B.C., after Carthage broke its treaty with Rome by declaring war against the state of Numidia, the Romans sent an army to North Africa, beginning the Third Punic War. A very brave leader named Scipio came up with the plan to attack Carthage, His strategy forced Hannibal to turn back and defend his city, and in 202 B.C at Zama, the Romans had defeated Hannibal. and in 146 B.C the city was set on fire and the 50,000 inhabitants were sold into slavery.
By the end of the Punic Wars, Rome had dominance over the entire western half of the mediterranean. They also went on to conquer the Eastern half and by 70 B.C it stretched from Anatolia to Spain.
The first Punic War was fought over the control of Sicily and the Western Mediterranean. Since Rome was very agricultural they had an interest in Carthage, which was controlled more by sea power. In the first part of the war, Rome made an alliance with the town of Hieron in north-east Sicily. This was led by Claudius and Marcus Valerius Messalla in 263 BC. The Romans won more land in 262 BC with the towns of Segesta and Agrigentum. n 260 BC they defeated the Battle of the Lipari Islands . In 241 BC, Carthage signed a peace treaty under the terms of which they evacuated Sicily and paid Rome a large amount of money to settle for peace. The long war was costly to both powers, but Carthage was more severely struck. In 238 BC, Carthage suddenly fell into …show more content…
the Mercenary War,which Rome seized Sardinia and Corsica. Rome was now the most powerful state in the western Mediterranean,
The second Punic War was led by a brilliant military strategist known as Hannibal.
In 218 BC, Hannibal took control of the Greek city Saguntum, and set up a strong Carthaginian base there. Immediately after hearing the news of the first Punic War, Rome declared war on Carthage. From his new base Hannibal planned to march across the Pyrenees and the Alps in winter to surprise the Roman army with an attack. He then led his army through the wintry climate of the Alps. Hannibal lost over half of his men and most of his elephants due to the cold climate. He reached the Po River Valley with about 20,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, and a few elephants. However, Hannibal was able to increase the size of his army to about 30,000 by recruiting Gauls. Hannibal defeated the Roman legions in several battles, including the Battle of the Trebia, the Battle of Lake Trasimene and the Battle of Cannae. It ended with the Romans preventing Hannibal from capturing
Rome.
The third Punic War was the final war between Carthage and Rome. The war was a much smaller engagement than the two previous Punic Wars and but resulted in the complete destruction of the city of Carthage. In 149 B.C., after Carthage broke its treaty with Rome by declaring war against the state of Numidia, the Romans sent an army to North Africa, beginning the Third Punic War. A very brave leader named Scipio came up with the plan to attack Carthage, His strategy forced Hannibal to turn back and defend his city, and in 202 B.C at Zama, the Romans had defeated Hannibal. and in 146 B.C the city was set on fire and the 50,000 inhabitants were sold into slavery.
By the end of the Punic Wars, Rome had dominance over the entire western half of the mediterranean. They also went on to conquer the Eastern half and by 70 B.C it stretched from Anatolia to Spain.