The Roman Republic: The Three Punic Wars
The screams of men, women, and children fill the air. The crumbling and burning of buildings of a once prosperous city fall to the ground, this is what is manufactured in war. During the rule of Rome, conflicts inevitably rose against the Roman Republic, and three of the numerous conflicts were jumped- started because of Rome aiding an ally. All three Punic Wars had differences between them, in the catalyst of the fighting to the repercussions of war with the actions sandwiched in between. The trilogy of wars that Rome and Carthage were involved in erupted due to three different reasons for three different wars. The First Punic War had two phases, the first phase involved the Cities of Messana and Syracuse. Both cities were located on the
…show more content…
Both Rome and Carthage had to react to the declaration of war. During the First punic war, Rome sent a fleet to take over Sicily, which was the main focus in this war. Sadly for Rome, they failed to gain complete control of the city in 260 b.c.e. Four years later, the Romans set another naval fleet to the coast of Africa, while they were there, they set up a beachhead. Once, Carthage decided to surrender, the Romans asked of terms they could not afford and created an army that focused on calvary and war elephants. The results were pleasing to the Carthaginians as the Roman invaders fled from North Africa in 255 b.c.e. The battle for Sicily was still waging, however; it was a clear stalemate. The tide of battle shifted when a Roman fleet of 200 warships, ultimately sweeping the seas and taking control of the sea lanes and the collapse of the Punic stronghold on Sicily. One year later, Carthage surrendered, relinquishing Sicily to the Romans and agreeing to pay an indemnity (First Punic War). During the second war, Hannibal and his brother in-law, Hasdrubal, took head of the Carthaginian army. Since Rome controls the sea, Hannibal led his army over the alps and into northern Italy. In 203, Hannibal was ordered to return back to Africa. In 206, Publius Scipio won the battle at Ilipa, pushing the Carthaginians out of Spain. In 204 Scipio sailed to Africa, stationed a beachhead on the African coast.
Both Rome and Carthage had to react to the declaration of war. During the First punic war, Rome sent a fleet to take over Sicily, which was the main focus in this war. Sadly for Rome, they failed to gain complete control of the city in 260 b.c.e. Four years later, the Romans set another naval fleet to the coast of Africa, while they were there, they set up a beachhead. Once, Carthage decided to surrender, the Romans asked of terms they could not afford and created an army that focused on calvary and war elephants. The results were pleasing to the Carthaginians as the Roman invaders fled from North Africa in 255 b.c.e. The battle for Sicily was still waging, however; it was a clear stalemate. The tide of battle shifted when a Roman fleet of 200 warships, ultimately sweeping the seas and taking control of the sea lanes and the collapse of the Punic stronghold on Sicily. One year later, Carthage surrendered, relinquishing Sicily to the Romans and agreeing to pay an indemnity (First Punic War). During the second war, Hannibal and his brother in-law, Hasdrubal, took head of the Carthaginian army. Since Rome controls the sea, Hannibal led his army over the alps and into northern Italy. In 203, Hannibal was ordered to return back to Africa. In 206, Publius Scipio won the battle at Ilipa, pushing the Carthaginians out of Spain. In 204 Scipio sailed to Africa, stationed a beachhead on the African coast.