The Punic Wars

The Wars that turned Rome into an Empire

First Punic War

War on the Seas

264-241 BC

The Navies

• The Roman navy was somewhat prepared for a war at the seas.

• They had very little combat experience

• They fought pirates around the Italian peninsula.

• Carthage had a vast and experienced navy.• They controlled trade in the Mediterranean

with their navy.• Far superior to the Roman navy.

Roman Naval Improvement

• The Romans captured a Carthaginian trireme and copied the design to make their own ship.

• They added a device, named a corvus, to the prow of their ships to allow legionnaires to board Carthaginian ships.

Naval Warfare

• After early losses the Romans defeated the Carthaginians at the battle of with their new ships and boarding tactics.

• Rome lost more than 160 ships and over 100,000 men in a storm due to the instability of the new ships.

The Economic Factor

• Rome was able to afford rebuilding entire fleets, and did so on several occasions.

• Carthage however, due to its hiring large amounts of mercenaries could not afford to rebuild and had to sue for peace.

• In a condition for peace, Carthage had to pay massive reparations and Rome gained control of Sicily.

The Mercenary War

• Carthage could not afford to pay it’s mercenaries due to it’s debt to Rome.

• The mercenaries revolted and fought Carthage.

• Carthage won but Rome was able to consolidate it’s power in the Mediterranean.

The 2nd Punic WarA War of Perseverance

The 2nd Punic WarClose the Temple Doors

218 BC

• Siege of Saguntum

• Broken Treaty

• Scipio to break the siege in Spain

• Hannibal Sets out for Rome

The Armies

• Roman legions were well organized, disciplined and loyal.

• Carthage hired many mercenaries. Had Superior cavalry and elephants

• Carthaginian soldiers were used in the Phalanx, a non-versatile unit organization.

The 2nd Punic WarHannibal

247 BC-218 BC• Hannibal’s oath

• "I swear so soon as age will permit...I will use fire and steel to arrest the destiny of Rome.“

•Hannibal’s Conquest of Spain

•Hannibal’s Plan•Three major victories

•Turn the allies of Rome against her

The 2nd Punic War

• Fighting the Gauls• Into the Alps • The Crossover • Warm Greetings on the other

side of the Alps

Italy Overland

218 BC

The 2nd Punic WarTrebia

218 BC•Surprises the Roman army

• The army marches over 500 miles

• The Battle

•Hannibal Kept the Romans out in the Rain

• Hannibal attacked the Roman lines with his veteran infantry and his elephants

• Hannibal launched a surprise from the banks of the Trebia

•Aftermath

•Hannibal’s system of quarter

•Scipio leaves to fight the Carthaginians in Spain

The 2nd Punic WarTrasimene

217 BC

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• Flaminius led his arm along the banks of Lake Trasimene to where Hannibal's Camp is

• He was ambushed by a horde of Gauls, under Hannibal’s command, this surrounded the Roman army and destroyed it

•When the news of the defeat arrived in Rome they turned to Quintus Fabius Maximus

The 2nd Punic War

• Fabius wanted to use a different tactic to deal with Hannibal, this involved avoiding pitched battle but following and dogging him

• He was the first Roman to be elected dictator• His tactics were effective but the some Romans were

unhappy with his policies that Romans couldn’t beat Carthaginians

• When his six months as dictator were up Roman returned to their old strategies

Quintus Fabius Maximus

The Delayer

217BC- 216 BC

The 2nd Punic War

• The two new consuls, Gaius Terentius Varro and Gaius Aemilius Paulus assembled an army of around 100 000 men

• Decided to face Hannibal in an open plain where there could be no surprises

• Aftermath– Romans had a deeper resolve to defeat Hannibal– Hannibal makes his biggest mistake – Romans turn Back to Fabius

Cannae

216 BC

The 2nd Punic War

• After his father died campaigning, he was the only one to volunteer to go and fight the Carthaginians in Spain, even though he had not held any of the subsequent offices

• Spanish Campaigns – Victory at Cartago Nova– Diplomacy in Spain– Campaigning in Spain

Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus

211 BC-206 BC

The 2nd Punic War

• Scipio Campaigns to make Hannibal go home• Failures in North Africa

– Utica– How to fane a peace treaty

Taking the War Home

205 BC- 203 BC

The 2nd Punic War

• Scipio and Hannibal meet before the battle• Aftermath

– Hannibal returns to the Carthaginian Senate– Exile and triumph and Exile

Zama

202 BC

Third Punic War

• Signed the a Carthaginian peace

• The Carthaginians tried to fight a war against the Namibians

• Rome declares war and Carthage surrenders

• Carthage fights back

Causes

End of Carthage

• Scipio Amelianus takes command of Roman forces

• Destroys Carthage per his orders from Rome

• Punic Curse