TITLE:
The comparison of strategic, and operational aspects, employed by both the Carthage and Roman Republic during the Punic Wars.
INTRODUCTION:
During the time period 225-202 BC, the naval, and land forces of the Punic Empire, clashed with a growing powers of the Roman Republic, for the domination of the Western Mediterranean, which was a turning point in the history of Western World. The roman Republic defeated its greatest rival Carthage. This event set the stage for the Rome’s 600 years domination of the Western World; this single conflict decided which culture Greek/Roman or Semitic/Phoenician will dominate the development of the Western Mediterranean area.
This paper will concentrate on long-term strategic failure of the Carthaginian …show more content…
Taking as a model a Carthaginian vessel which had been wrecked on the Italian shore, they constructed, it is said, a hundred vessels like it in sixty days. In the meantime their soldiers were trained into sailors by practicing the art of rowing upon rude benches built upon the land and arranged like the banks of a real vessel. The Romans knew that their soldiers were better than the Carthaginians in a hand-to-hand encounter. To maintain this advantage, they provided their ships with drawbridges which could be used in boarding the enemy’s vessels.” (Morey 1901)
Rome emerged a victor from the First Punic War; the Carthaginian naval supremacy were subdued by Rome, moreover the peace terms gave Rome the whole island of Sicily, except the independent Greek colony Syracuse, and the island of Corsica. Shortly after the war, Rome took advantage of political instability in Carthage in the form of revolt, and annexed the island of Sardinia. (Durant 1972)
Undeniably, the First Punic War led to the Second Punic War; since the Carthaginians elites wanted to believe that Carthage lost the war unjustly, and such shame must be erased with blood.
We already know that Carthaginians lost the Second Punic War also, and we know how they lost the war, so now we will try to determine why country far older and richer, with almost unlimited supply of resources lost the Second Punic
The comparison of strategic, and operational aspects, employed by both the Carthage and Roman Republic during the Punic Wars.
INTRODUCTION:
During the time period 225-202 BC, the naval, and land forces of the Punic Empire, clashed with a growing powers of the Roman Republic, for the domination of the Western Mediterranean, which was a turning point in the history of Western World. The roman Republic defeated its greatest rival Carthage. This event set the stage for the Rome’s 600 years domination of the Western World; this single conflict decided which culture Greek/Roman or Semitic/Phoenician will dominate the development of the Western Mediterranean area.
This paper will concentrate on long-term strategic failure of the Carthaginian …show more content…
Taking as a model a Carthaginian vessel which had been wrecked on the Italian shore, they constructed, it is said, a hundred vessels like it in sixty days. In the meantime their soldiers were trained into sailors by practicing the art of rowing upon rude benches built upon the land and arranged like the banks of a real vessel. The Romans knew that their soldiers were better than the Carthaginians in a hand-to-hand encounter. To maintain this advantage, they provided their ships with drawbridges which could be used in boarding the enemy’s vessels.” (Morey 1901)
Rome emerged a victor from the First Punic War; the Carthaginian naval supremacy were subdued by Rome, moreover the peace terms gave Rome the whole island of Sicily, except the independent Greek colony Syracuse, and the island of Corsica. Shortly after the war, Rome took advantage of political instability in Carthage in the form of revolt, and annexed the island of Sardinia. (Durant 1972)
Undeniably, the First Punic War led to the Second Punic War; since the Carthaginians elites wanted to believe that Carthage lost the war unjustly, and such shame must be erased with blood.
We already know that Carthaginians lost the Second Punic War also, and we know how they lost the war, so now we will try to determine why country far older and richer, with almost unlimited supply of resources lost the Second Punic