Punic Wars

When discussing the differences between Carthage and Rome, the topic of the Punic Wars could not be ignored. It was during the first Punic War that Rome gained its powers as a naval fleet, which led them on to conquer all and win victories in all three of the Wars. However, Rome’s navy was not always part of their strong-suit; it was their army that gave them their military status. But if they wanted to take down Carthage, who owned one of the best naval fleets of their time, Rome was going…

The Second Punic War, of course after the first, dated 218-202 BC. Rome and Carthage were fighting this war. The Romans were known for fighting on land, and The Carthaginians were known for being one with the sea. Carthage also had Hannibal, son of a general during the First Punic War Hannibal, arguably the greatest general of all time, “...no Roman could compare with him,” was known for his creative and unique tactics (Outlines of Roman History). Even fighting against the Carthaginians again…

50 years after the First Punic War, Carthage had paid off their entire 10,000 talent fee. They then believed that this meant that the treaty was expired. Numidia, an ally of Rome, had frequently raided Carthage because in the treaty Carthage had agreed not to retaliate. Carthage was outraged that the Numidians had been allowed to invade their nation, and in return, Carthage assembled a small army to attack Numidia without Roman permission. This was the opportunity Rome was waiting for. Though…

Titus and his Punic Wars In Rome during the Punic wars the impression that is most thought of when thinking of ancient Rome is that of many a poor farmer taking up arms in defense of their country, land, and family. However, the reality was starkly similar to what we see today, the powerful, and rich running the city-state while the poor are subject to their whims or flights of fancy and it became a fight for who had the best strategy for whoever defeated Hannibal would surely win all the…

The wars scarred and bruised the land, almost nothing left of what was once a mighty kingdom. Stones to pebbles, Wood to ash, houses flattened, temples brutally pillaged and destroyed. What had happened to this place it was once a land of gold and trade, but only bodies and fire remain. Ancient Battles Two of the most fierce empires in the ancient world, would soon clash together. This clash was called the Punic wars or the Carthaginian Wars. It was called the Punic Wars because Punic is part…

The 3rd Punic War is a collection of four books from a series of thirty-nine books titled The Histories, authored by Polybius. The books that cover The 3rd Punic War are books 36 through 39. In book 36, Polybius covers the negotiations of surrender between the Romans and Carthaginians. In book 37, Polybius gives his views of how the Romans have become obsessed with power and control, then he jumps to his 1st hand account of structuring a peace deal between the Achaeans and the Romans. Book 38,…

The Power of Carthage Carthage and Rome were two powerful states in the Ancient Western Mediterranean. These empires would eventually cross paths and be drawn into a pair of wars known as the Punic Wars (Morey, 1901). Prior to the wars, Rome was a force to be reckoned with as it had grown in power through a series of wars with neighboring states in which it was triumphant. Rome was so big and with citizens so loyal, few other states would dare challenge its might. That is until, Carthage had…

The writing I selected was a paper submitted to my history professor detailing the accounts of the 2nd Punic War in Carthage. This was a comment on the fairly powerful passage from “The Punic Wars” by Adrian Goldsworthy, which focused on the conditions and treatments of the slaves in the Punic War. They were given barely enough food to survive, and they made to march many miles. Civilians were very sympathetic to the slaves, but if they tried to feed the slaves, the food would be stolen by the…

Rome expanded beyond Carthage territory grew due to the Punic wars. Rome gained dominance over the western Mediterranean Sea, and access into the Hellenistic kingdoms in the east. Romans believed that the utter destruction of Carthage would be the only thing to end the conflict for good because the Carthaginians could always build up an army and fight back like they did the first time. Also they wanted Carthage and everyone else to know they meant business and would destroy anyone that…

Scipio Africanus The second Punic War was ended a year after the battle of zama-- that in which Scipio Africanus defeated Hannibal Barca, which is to be believed to be the reason that Carthage surrendered. He also managed to make Rome out to be a savior of the people when he conquered previously Carthage occupied towns. Scipio Africanus directly impacted Rome through his military career and his work in the senate. Scipio Africanus started his military career before the age of eighteen, when…