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