Introduction
Founded in Northern Africa around 813 B.C. by Phoenician merchants, Carthage grew exponentially into a vast empire that dominated trade in the Mediterranean and at its height rivaled the power of Rome (Mark, 2011). Subsequently, this rivalry resulted in Carthage and Rome waging war for control of the Mediterranean (Mark, 2011). For my written assignment for this unit, I will trace how Carthage came to rival Rome, the strengths of both and how their conflict led to Rome becoming a naval power.
Discussion
The onset of Carthage’s rise to power commences around the year 675 B.C. when the city transitioned from a Phoenician settlement to an independent city (Lendering, 2016). Moreover, around the 6th Century B.C., the Carthaginians …show more content…
Carthage had a vast amount of wealth and resources from its prestigious commerce in trade and a formidable navy (Levin, 2002, June; Morey, 1901). Furthermore, Carthage had a plethora of brilliant and capable leaders (Morey, 1901). In contrast, Rome did not yet have a large navy but they did field a large, well-trained and well organized citizen army (Morey, 1901). Moreover, Rome had a loyal body of citizens who would defend Rome and each other from outside threats which contrasted with Carthage whose abuse and contempt for the populace of its conquered territories left them ripe for revolt if a conquering army were to show up at the gates (Levin, 2002, June; Morey, …show more content…
An open sea battle between the two would likely result in Carthage emerging victorious (Levin, 2002, June). However, the Romans had devised a clever solution. First, the Romans commenced work on reverse engineering a beached Carthaginian vessel and subsequently constructed a hundred vessels in its image in an astounding sixty-day period (Morey, 1901). Next, the Romans equipped each vessel with a bridge which it could attach to an enemy vessel allowing the Roman soldiers to board it thereby altering the makeup of the battle form a ship to ship battle into one involving hand to hand combat at which the Romans excelled (Loon, 1997; Morey
Founded in Northern Africa around 813 B.C. by Phoenician merchants, Carthage grew exponentially into a vast empire that dominated trade in the Mediterranean and at its height rivaled the power of Rome (Mark, 2011). Subsequently, this rivalry resulted in Carthage and Rome waging war for control of the Mediterranean (Mark, 2011). For my written assignment for this unit, I will trace how Carthage came to rival Rome, the strengths of both and how their conflict led to Rome becoming a naval power.
Discussion
The onset of Carthage’s rise to power commences around the year 675 B.C. when the city transitioned from a Phoenician settlement to an independent city (Lendering, 2016). Moreover, around the 6th Century B.C., the Carthaginians …show more content…
Carthage had a vast amount of wealth and resources from its prestigious commerce in trade and a formidable navy (Levin, 2002, June; Morey, 1901). Furthermore, Carthage had a plethora of brilliant and capable leaders (Morey, 1901). In contrast, Rome did not yet have a large navy but they did field a large, well-trained and well organized citizen army (Morey, 1901). Moreover, Rome had a loyal body of citizens who would defend Rome and each other from outside threats which contrasted with Carthage whose abuse and contempt for the populace of its conquered territories left them ripe for revolt if a conquering army were to show up at the gates (Levin, 2002, June; Morey, …show more content…
An open sea battle between the two would likely result in Carthage emerging victorious (Levin, 2002, June). However, the Romans had devised a clever solution. First, the Romans commenced work on reverse engineering a beached Carthaginian vessel and subsequently constructed a hundred vessels in its image in an astounding sixty-day period (Morey, 1901). Next, the Romans equipped each vessel with a bridge which it could attach to an enemy vessel allowing the Roman soldiers to board it thereby altering the makeup of the battle form a ship to ship battle into one involving hand to hand combat at which the Romans excelled (Loon, 1997; Morey