the punic wars rome against carthage. the first punic war rome's first territorial conquest...

The Punic Wars

Rome against Carthage

The first Punic War

• Rome's first territorial conquest outside of Italy was Carthage in Africa.

• Rome wanted Carthage for two reasons:

Reasons for the first Punic War:

1) Carthage controlled Sicily, a valuable source of grain.

Reasons for the first Punic War:

2) The navy of Carthage was a threat; it controlled commercial trade in the Mediterranean, and hindered trade at sea for Rome.

The First Punic War

• Rome invaded Sicily.

The First Punic War

• Rome built a navy (at first Carthage was stronger at sea). • The Roman Ships had a gangplank to hook on to enemy boats

so legionaries could board and fight on deck. • Rome utterly destroyed the Carthaginian Navy.

The First Punic War

• The Carthaginians signed a treaty making Sicily the first Roman province.

• Next Rome took the islands of Corsica and Sardinia.

The Second Punic War

• Again Carthage became a threat. • They expanded their empire into Spain and were

advancing north, closer to Italy.

The Second Punic War

• Rome demanded that the greatest of all Carthaginian generals, Hannibal, surrender a city in Northern Spain - Saguntum (a Roman ally).

• He Refused, and launched an invasion on Italy instead.

The Second Punic War

• From Spain he marched 40,000 infantry, 8000 cavalry, & 60 battle elephants over the Alps (mountain barrier to Italy).

• Within two months he conquered all of Northern Italy.

The Second Punic War• Once in Italy he was almost

unstoppable. • He defeated the Romans at the

Trebia River, & Lake Trasimene.

The Second Punic War• In Southern Italy he defeated

the Romans at the battle of Cannae.

The Second Punic War• He used a crescent shaped formation

of troops and cavalry.• It was a brilliant strategy of false

retreat followed by attack & conquer.

The Second Punic War

• Before attacking Rome he needed reinforcements.

• He sent his brother, Hasdrubal.

• The Romans intercepted his messengers.

• After learning the location of his armies they crushed them & delivered Hastrubal's head to Hannibal.

The Second Punic War• Hannibal was at Rome's doorstep without siege

equipment, or reinforcements from Spain. • In Spain the Carthaginians were losing a counter

invasion led by the Roman General Scipio.• Scipio conquered all of Spain and Hannibal retreated to

protect Carthage. • In spite of winning every battle he lost the war.

The Second Punic War

• He was defeated at the battle of Zama by Scipio.• Carthage surrendered and Rome became an empire.• Hannibal committed suicide when assassins followed him

into exile.

The Second Punic War

• Four reasons Hannibal lost the war:• 1) No siege equipment for Rome's walls• 2) Rome's allies were too loyal to join him• 3) Carthage didn't get reinforcements through• 4) The Romans never gave up

The Third Punic War

• Carthage revived its commercial empire and violated a treaty by building up its military.

• Rome, still angry about the second war, destroyed, plundered, burned, and plowed the city under, sowing the ground with salt so nothing could grow.

• They slaughtered the inhabitants and those not killed were sold into slavery.