The second Punic war was the most devastating war that had to face Carthage. After the end of the first Punic war, Carthage managed to recover economically thanks to the choices of Amilcare, Asdrubale and especially Hannibal, who once became head of the Carthaginian army in Spain, with the siege of Segundo, began the war.
"He invaded ever deeper inland and then besieged and conquered Saguntum (modern Sagunto, just north of Valencia), a long-time ally of Rome, in 219 BCE" (Cartwright, 2016).
Once the war began, the Roman general Scipione discovered in Hannibal a great adversary, a military genius who managed to get Rome's attention by attacking his allies.
The war, however, eventually saw the supremacy of Rome, despite the descent of Hannibal …show more content…
Following this victory Rome became the master of the Mediterranean and the only superpower of the region.
Carthage had to suffer a war tax of 200 talents every year, for 50 years, in order to weaken it financially, had to abandon all of Spain and all the islands between Africa and Italy, Numidia became an ally of Rome, and finally Carthage became a dependent state and could not undertake any war without the consent of Rome. Syracuse was added to the province of Sicily, and the territory of Spain was divided into two provinces, Hither and Farther. Furthermore, Rome and Macedonia began hostile relations following the new Roman expansion plans in the East (Morey, 1901).
In conclusion, despite the serious sacrifices endured, the Punic war will represent a decisive turning point for the future fortunes of Rome. First of all in terms of territorial expansion, since at the end of the war Rome will take total control of the entire Italian peninsula, adding also Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and the southern coast of the Iberian peninsula, extending its influence on the African Carthaginian coasts and of Numidia, as well as on the Aegean area. Thus, a control of the entire western Mediterranean basin was carried out, which will lay the foundations for the future
"He invaded ever deeper inland and then besieged and conquered Saguntum (modern Sagunto, just north of Valencia), a long-time ally of Rome, in 219 BCE" (Cartwright, 2016).
Once the war began, the Roman general Scipione discovered in Hannibal a great adversary, a military genius who managed to get Rome's attention by attacking his allies.
The war, however, eventually saw the supremacy of Rome, despite the descent of Hannibal …show more content…
Following this victory Rome became the master of the Mediterranean and the only superpower of the region.
Carthage had to suffer a war tax of 200 talents every year, for 50 years, in order to weaken it financially, had to abandon all of Spain and all the islands between Africa and Italy, Numidia became an ally of Rome, and finally Carthage became a dependent state and could not undertake any war without the consent of Rome. Syracuse was added to the province of Sicily, and the territory of Spain was divided into two provinces, Hither and Farther. Furthermore, Rome and Macedonia began hostile relations following the new Roman expansion plans in the East (Morey, 1901).
In conclusion, despite the serious sacrifices endured, the Punic war will represent a decisive turning point for the future fortunes of Rome. First of all in terms of territorial expansion, since at the end of the war Rome will take total control of the entire Italian peninsula, adding also Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and the southern coast of the Iberian peninsula, extending its influence on the African Carthaginian coasts and of Numidia, as well as on the Aegean area. Thus, a control of the entire western Mediterranean basin was carried out, which will lay the foundations for the future