Three Wars: The First Punic War

Many of the states of Italy that Rome had conquered a century before now joined Hannibal. This was a threat to Rome, so the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio took a Roman army to north Africa and then Hannibal went back to defend Carthage. In the battle at Zama, near Carthage, in 202 BC the Romans finally defeated Hannibal.

In 264 B.C. the Romans became committed to their first over-seas conflict, when “Carthage attempted to gain control of the island of Sicily. The prospect of such a powerful neighbor only a few miles offshore from Italy worried the Romans. When Sicilian Greeks asked for Roman

The first Punic war started as the Romans moved over the sea and marched on Sicily to gain lands there. The war began 264 BCE and finished 241 BCE. There were a lot of battles especially with the Battle of Agrigentum being a massive learning curve for the Carthage army as it was routed by the Romans.

Yet when Carthage took Sicily, Rome responded by building 330 ships to fight for their land, starting the First Punic War. Carthage was defeated by Rome in 241 BCE, and had to give up Sicily. Carthage went to war with Rome again when the Carthaginian general Hannibal attacked the city of Saguntum, Rome’s ally. This was the start of the Second Punic War. Hannibal was defeated at the Battle of Zama, meaning Carthage lost against Rome once more. The Third Punic War began when Carthage refused Rome’s demands to have Carthage dismantled and rebuilt further inland. The Roman general Scipio Aemilianus surrounded Carthage with armed forces for three years until it fell and the Romans burned it to the ground. Around 122 BCE, Julius Caesar decided to re-build Carthage, and five years after his death, the city rose again. Power and importance shifted back to Carthage, until the fall of the

From 264 BC to 146 BC, a series of wars broke out between Carthage and Rome. These wars were probably the largest that had ever taken place in this time period, and were called The Punic Wars. The reason for the conflict was the existing Carthaginian Empire and expanding Roman Republic came into contact with one another. During this time new strategic weapons and plans were being used. The Romans successfully defeated the Carthaginians with a wide use of tactics and sophisticated weapons.

The three Punic Wars were a series of wars fought between the two great powers at the time, which were Carthage and Rome. They fought between 264 BCE and 146 BCE. Rome was a small city that led to a great empire. They were the power of the whole Italian peninsula. While on the other hand Carthage started off as a small port and grew to become the richest and most powerful city. They were the great power of the Mediterranean peninsula. They had a powerful navy, a mercenary army. Rome at the time has a bigger army but a not so great navy. The First Punic War started when Rome found out that Carthage was in Sicily. The first Punic war was won by Rome. The Second Punic War was started by a Carthaginian general named Hannibal. He invaded Italy and

The three Punic wars between Carthage and Rome took place over nearly a century, beginning in 263 B.C. and ending with the destruction if Carthage in 146 B.C. When the conflict began, Rome was a small city-state. By the end of it, Rome ruled the Mediterranean, with conquered lands stretching from Spain to Greece. However, this conquest came with a price. At the end of the Punic Wars, abuse of power, unemployed men roaming around the city, and corruption started the downfall of the Roman Republic.

Carthage became the wealthiest city in the region by 265 B.C. and possessed the leading naval power (Punic Wars). While some clashes erupted between Carthage and other powers in the area, the relations between the city and the Romans remained generally peaceful. However, the relationship changed in 264 B.C. when Rome intervened in a dispute between the cities of Syracuse and Messina on the island of Sicily (Punic Wars). Rome supported Messina, while Carthage sided with Syracuse. The interactions between Carthage, Rome, and the two cities led to a direct conflict between Rome and Carthage (Punic Wars).

The Battle Messana of was the mark of the beginning of the first Punic War. The battle was 265 - 264 BC. The Romans and Carthage wanted the city Sicily. It ended with the Romans winning Messana . The Battle of Messana was short but made a war that was going on for over twenty years.

Hannibal planned to travel to Italy and fight Rome on its home court. Hannibal hoped that if he kept winning in their own land then the countryside would rise up and join Hannibal to destroy Rome. Hannibal and his troops however had a problem, the Medertierrian was still ruled by the Romans traveling through the sea would be death for him and his men. Because of this Hannibal thought of a risky idea that now is one of the greatest accomplishments of a general in warfare. According to Educari Unlimited, a youtube channel, they state in Autumn 218 B.C. ”

Polybius as well as Livy, wrote an important and fantastical anecdote depicting the hatred of the Barcas concerning Rome. Polybius uses this anecdote to convince his reader that Hamilcar indeed played a key role in the starting of the Second Punic War. On the opening page of book XXI in Livy, Hamilcar and his son Hannibal are arguing over letting Hannibal go to Spain with his father or not. Polybius does not mention an argument, but this should not detract from the anecdote. Hamilcar meanwhile had prepared to make a sacrifice to the gods for a successful outcome in his trip and possibly for another war against Rome, made his son swear with his hand on the sacrificial victim, “ When he was old enough, he would be the enemy of the Roman people.

The outcomes of the second Punic War was a profound turning point for Roman history. Immediately, the acquisition of the empire. Rome had acquired many new territories and the Republic had to figure out administrative, financial, foreign political systems to rule. “It seems self-evident, but it is worth stressing that these territories were indeed conquered lands, and Rome had to keep large numbers of men in the army in order to secure them.” (Bagnall). This meant that the army continued to have a huge influence and play a strong role in Roman society. Greece was the only power left until the First Macedonian War. The war with Hannibal was considered by the Romans to have mythic terms. Romans eventually saw this as Rome’s heroic age. Villains

These Campanian mercenaries, who called themselves Mamertines, or Sons of Mars, murdered the inhabitants and ravaged the surrounding country. The king of Syracuse attacked them, laid siege to their city, and reduced them to such an extremity that they felt obliged to look for help. The choice lay between Rome and Carthage. They finally decided to call upon Rome for help. The Roman senate hesitated to help these robbers against Syracuse, which was a friendly power. But when the question was left to the assembly, the people fearing that Carthage would be called upon if they refused, it was decided to help the Mamertines, and thus prevent the Carthaginians from getting possession of this part of Sicily. In this way began the first Punic war.

This began the Punic wars. There were three Punic wars. Rome and Carthage were the two strongest contenders of the central Mediterranean Sea of that time. In each of these wars Carthage lost. These wars lasted off and on from 246 BC to 149 BC, with Carthage eventually being destroyed.

The second Púnic war (herein after referred to as, “the War”) came to a close in 201 BCE, following Scípio’s victory over Hánnibal at the battle of Záma. After seventeen years of warfare, and at a great loss of life on both sides, Rome defeated Cárthage and came out on top as the new superpower in the Mediterránean region. The outcome of this war brought consequences to Cárthage and created opportunities for Rome (Morey, 1901).