essay on the punic wars

• History Classics
• Your Profile
• Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window)
• Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window)
• This Day In History
• History Podcasts
• History Vault

By: History.com Editors

Updated: June 12, 2023 | Original: October 29, 2009

The three Punic Wars between Carthage and Rome took place over nearly a century, beginning in 264 B.C. and ending in Roman victory with the destruction of Carthage in 146 B.C. By the time the First Punic War broke out, Rome had become the dominant power throughout the Italian peninsula, while Carthage–a powerful city-state in North Africa–had established itself as the leading maritime power in the world. The Second Punic War saw Roman troops, led by Scipio Africanus, defeat Hannibal after his stunning invasion of Italy. In the Third Punic War, the Romans destroyed the city of Carthage in 146 B.C., turning North Africa into yet another province of the all-powerful Roman Empire.

Carthage and Rome

Tradition holds that Phoenician settlers from the Mediterranean port of Tyre (in what is now Lebanon) founded the city-state of Carthage on the northern coast of Africa, just north of modern-day Tunis, around 814 B.C. (The word “Punic,” later the name for the series of wars between Carthage and Rome , was derived from the Latin word for Phoenician.)

Did you know? The Greek historian Polybius, one of the main sources of information about the Punic Wars, was born around 200 B.C. A friend of and mentor to Scipio Aemilianus, he was an eyewitness to the siege and destruction of Carthage in 146 B.C.

By 265 B.C., Carthage was the wealthiest and most advanced city in the region, as well as its leading naval power. Though Carthage had clashed violently with several other powers in the region, notably Greece , its relations with Rome were historically friendly, and the cities had signed several treaties defining trading rights over the years.

First Punic War (264-241 B.C.)

In 264 B.C., Rome decided to intervene in a dispute on the western coast of the island of Sicily (then a Carthaginian province) involving an attack by soldiers from the city of Syracuse against the city of Messina. While Carthage supported Syracuse, Rome supported Messina, and the struggle soon exploded into a direct conflict between the two powers, with control of Sicily at stake.

Over the course of nearly 20 years, Rome rebuilt its entire fleet in order to confront Carthage’s powerful navy, scoring its first sea victory at Mylae in 260 B.C. and a major victory in the Battle of Ecnomus in 256 B.C.

Though its invasion of North Africa that same year ended in defeat, Rome refused to give up, and in 241 B.C. the Roman fleet was able to win a decisive victory against the Carthaginians at sea, breaking their legendary naval superiority. At the end of the First Punic War, Sicily became Rome’s first overseas province.

Second Punic War (218-201 B.C.)

Over the next decades, Rome took over control of both Corsica and Sardinia as well, but Carthage was able to establish a new base of influence in Spain beginning in 237 B.C., under the leadership of the powerful general Hamilcar Barca and, later, his son-in-law Hasdrubal.

According to Polybius and Livy in their histories of Rome, Hamilcar Barca, who died in 229 B.C., made his younger son Hannibal swear a blood oath against Rome when he was just a young boy. Upon Hasdrubal’s death in 221 B.C., Hannibal took command of Carthaginian forces in Spain.

Two years later, Hannibal marched his army across the Ebro River into Saguntum, an Iberian city under Roman protection, effectively declaring war on Rome. The Second Punic War saw Hannibal and his troops–including as many as 90,000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry and a number of elephants–march from Spain across the Alps and into Italy, where they scored a string of victories over Roman troops at Ticinus, Trebia and Trasimene.

Hannibal’s daring elephantine invasion of Rome reached its height at the Battle of Cannae in 216 B.C., where he used his superior cavalry to surround a Roman army twice the size of his own and inflict massive casualties.

Scipio Africanus

After this disastrous defeat, however, the Romans managed to rebound, and the Carthaginians lost their hold on Italy as Rome won victories in Spain and North Africa under the rising young general Scipio Africanus .

In 203 B.C., Hannibal’s troops were forced to abandon the struggle in Italy in order to defend North Africa, and the following year Scipio Africanus and his troops routed the Carthaginians in the Battle of Zama.

Hannibal’s losses in the Second Punic War effectively put an end to Carthage’s empire in the western Mediterranean, leaving Rome in control of Spain and allowing Carthage to retain only its territory in North Africa. Carthage was also forced to give up its fleet and pay a large indemnity in silver to Rome.

Third Punic War (149-146 B.C.)

The Third Punic War, by far the most controversial of the three conflicts between Rome and Carthage, was the result of efforts by Cato the Elder and other hawkish members of the Roman Senate to convince their colleagues that Carthage (even in its weakened state) was a continuing threat to Rome’s supremacy.

Cato is remembered for his rallying cry, “Carthage must be destroyed!” which some historians have cited as an early support for genocide .

In 149 B.C., after Carthage technically broke its treaty with Rome by declaring war against the neighboring state of Numidia, the Romans sent an army to North Africa, beginning the Third Punic War.

Carthage withstood the Roman siege for two years before a change of Roman command put the young general Scipio Aemilianus (later known as Scipio the Younger) in charge of the North Africa campaign in 147 B.C.

Fall of Carthage

After tightening the Roman positions around Carthage, Aemilianus launched a forceful attack on its harbor side in the spring of 146 B.C., pushing into the city and destroying house after house while pushing enemy troops towards their citadel. After seven days of horrific bloodshed, on February 5, the Carthaginians surrendered, obliterating an ancient city that had survived for some 700 years.

According to legend, as Scipio Aemilianus watched the once-mighty city fall into utter ruin, he broke down in tears. When asked why by his teacher Polybius, he replied, “A glorious moment, Polybius; but I have a dread foreboding that some day the same doom will be pronounced on my own country.”

Imagining the eventual fall of Rome , he then quoted an ancient line from Homer: “A day will come when sacred Troy shall perish, and Priam and his people shall be slain.”

As the Punic Wars ended , the surviving 50,000 citizens of Carthage were sold into slavery. Also in 146 B.C., Roman troops moved east to defeat King Philip V of Macedonia in the Macedonian Wars, and by year’s end Rome reigned supreme over an empire stretching from the Atlantic coast of Spain to the border between Greece and Asia Minor (now Turkey).

HISTORY Vault: Ancient Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire

History of the ancient Roman Empire.

Warfare in the Hellenistic Age: The Punic Wars. Pennsylvania State University . The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic. Mike Duncan. PublicAffairs . The Punic Wars: (264-241, 218-202, 149-146 B.C.). The Latin Library . The First Genocide: Carthage, 146 BC. Ben Kiernan. Diogenes. Yale University .

Sign up for Inside History

Get HISTORY’s most fascinating stories delivered to your inbox three times a week.

By submitting your information, you agree to receive emails from HISTORY and A+E Networks. You can opt out at any time. You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States.

More details : Privacy Notice | Terms of Use | Contact Us

• school Campus Bookshelves
• menu_book Bookshelves
• perm_media Learning Objects
• login Login
• how_to_reg Request Instructor Account
• hub Instructor Commons
• Download Page (PDF)
• Download Full Book (PDF)
• Periodic Table
• Physics Constants
• Scientific Calculator
• Reference & Cite
• Tools expand_more
• Readability

selected template will load here

This action is not available.

9.6: The Punic Wars

• Last updated
• Save as PDF
• Page ID 17042

• Christopher Brooks
• Portland Community College

Rome's great rival in this early period of expansion was the North-African city of Carthage , founded centuries earlier by Phoenician explorers. Carthage was one of the richest and most powerful trading empires of the Hellenistic Age, a peer of the Alexandrian empires to the east, trading with them and occasionally skirmishing with the Ptolemaic armies of Egypt and with the Greek cities of Sicily. Rome and Carthage had long been trading partners, and for centuries there was no real reason for them to be enemies since they were separated by the Mediterranean. That being said, as Rome’s power increased to encompass all of Italy, the Carthaginians became increasingly concerned that Rome might pose a threat to its own dominance.

Conflict finally broke out in 264 BCE in Sicily. The island of Sicily was one of the oldest and most important areas for Greek colonization. There, a war broke out between the two most powerful poleis, Syracuse and Messina. The Carthaginians sent a fleet to intervene on behalf of Messinans, but the Messinans then called for help from Rome as well (a betrayal of sorts from the perspective of Carthage). Soon, the conflict escalated as Carthage took the side of Syracuse and Rome saw an opportunity to expand Roman power in Sicily. The Centuriate Assembly voted to escalate the Roman military commitment since its members wanted the potential riches to be won in war. This initiated the First Punic War , which lasted from 264 to 241 BCE (note: “Punic” refers to the Roman term for Carthage and its civilization).

The Romans suffered several defeats, but they were rich and powerful enough at this point to persist in the war effort. Rome benefited greatly from the fact that the Carthaginians did not realize that the war could grow to be about more than just Sicily; even after winning victories there, the Carthaginians never tried to invade Italy itself (which they could have done, at least early on). The Romans eventually learned how to carry out effective naval warfare and stranded the Carthaginian army in Sicily. The Carthaginians sued for peace in 241 BCE and agreed to give up their claims to Sicily and to pay a war indemnity. The Romans, however, betrayed them and seized the islands of Corsica and Sardinia as well, territories that were still under the nominal control of Carthage.

From the aftermath of the First Punic War and the seizure of Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica emerged the Roman provincial system: the islands were turned into “provinces” of the Republic, each of which was obligated to pay tribute (the “tithe,” meaning tenth, of all grain) and follow the orders of Roman governors appointed by the senate. That system would continue for the rest of the republican and imperial periods of Roman history, with the governors wielding enormous power and influence in their respective provinces.

Unsurprisingly, the Carthaginians wanted revenge, not just for their loss in the war but for Rome’s seizure of Corsica and Sardinia. For twenty years, the Carthaginians built up their forces and their resources, most notably by invading and conquering a large section of Spain, containing rich mines of gold and copper and thousands of Spanish Celts who came to serve as mercenaries in the Carthaginian armies. In 218 BCE, the great Carthaginian general Hannibal (son of the most successful general who had fought the Romans in the First Punic War) launched a surprise attack in Spain against Roman allies and then against Roman forces themselves. This led to the Second Punic War (218 BCE - 202 BCE).

Hannibal crossed the Alps into Italy from Spain with 60,000 men and a few dozen war elephants (most of the elephants perished, but the survivors proved very effective, and terrifying, against the Roman forces). For the next two years, he crushed every Roman army sent against him, killing tens of thousands of Roman soldiers and marching perilously close to Rome. Hannibal never lost a single battle in Italy, yet neither did he force the Romans to sue for peace.

Hannibal defeated the Romans repeatedly with clever tactics: he lured them across icy rivers and ambushed them, he concealed a whole army in the fog one morning and then sprang on a Roman legion, and he led the Romans into narrow passes and slaughtered them. In one battle in 216 BCE, Hannibal’s smaller army defeated a larger Roman force by letting it push in the Carthaginian center, then surrounding it with cavalry. He was hampered, though, by the fact that he did not have a siege train to attack Rome itself (which was heavily fortified), and he failed to win over the southern Italian peoples who had been conquered by the Romans a century earlier. The Romans kept losing to Hannibal, but they were largely successful in keeping Hannibal from receiving reinforcements from Spain and Africa, slowly but steadily weakening his forces.

Eventually, the Romans altered their tactics and launched a guerrilla war against Hannibal within Italy, harrying his forces. This was totally contrary to their usual tactics, and the dictator Fabius Maximus who insisted on it in 217 BCE was mockingly nicknamed “the Delayer” by his detractors in the Roman government despite his evident success. The Romans vacillated on this strategy, suffering the terrible defeat mentioned above in 216 BCE, but as Hannibal’s victories grew and some cities in Italy and Sicily started defecting to the Carthaginian side, they returned to it.

A brilliant Roman general named Scipio defeated the Carthaginian forces back in Spain in 207 BCE, cutting Hannibal off from both reinforcements and supplies, which weakened his army significantly. Scipio then attacked Africa itself, forcing Carthage to recall Hannibal to protect the city. Hannibal finally lost in 202 BCE after coming as close as anyone had to defeating the Romans. The victorious Scipio, now easily the most powerful man in Rome, became the first great general to add to his own name the name of the place he conquered: he became Scipio “Africanus” - conqueror of Africa.

An uneasy peace lasted for several decades between Rome and Carthage, despite enduring anti-Carthaginian hatred in Rome; one prominent senator named Cato the Elder reputedly ended every speech in the senate with the statement “…and Carthage must be destroyed.” Rome finally forced the issue in the mid-second century BCE by meddling in Carthaginian affairs. The third and last Punic War that ensued was utterly one-sided: it began in 149 BCE, and by 146 BCE Carthage was defeated. Not only were thousands of the Carthaginian people killed or enslaved, but the city itself was brutally sacked (the comment by Polybius regarding the terror inspired by Rome, noted above, was specifically in reference to the horrific sack of Carthage).

The Punic Wars were armed conflicts between the Carthaginian Empire and the Roman Republic between 264 and 146 B.C ., which at that time were the two dominant Mediterranean countries.

Interesting data

• Dates : 264 B.C. to 241 B.C. (First Punic War), 218 B.C. to 201 B.C. (Second Punic War) and from 149 B.C. to 146 B.C. (Third Medical War)
• Confronted groups : Rome and the Carthaginian Empire

What were the Punic Wars?

Punic Wars were three major military confrontations between the two great empires of the Ancient World, Rome and Carthage . These three wars took place between 264 and 146 B.C.  Confrontations took place between a commercial empire (Carthage) and an expanding one (Rome). Romans managed to defeat their enemies by equalizing and surpassing their naval army, taking advantage of their military strategies to defeat their opponents on the ground and not letting them ever recover again.  After the wars, Carthage was reduced to ashes and subdued under the Roman Empire, its army, formed mostly by mercenaries could win many battles in the conflict but never managed to win the war.

The term “Punic” comes from the Latin Punicus or Poenicus which was the name given by the Romans to the Carthaginians.

Punic Wars were the biggest war clashes in the history of the classical world. The first took place between 264 B.C. and 241 B.C. The second occurred between 218 B.C. and 201 B.C. and the third occurred between 149 B.C. and 146 B.C.

Causes of Punic Wars

First punic war, second punic war, third punic war, consequences of the punic wars.

The cause of this war was mainly the interest of the Roman Republic in expanding southwards by conquering Sicily, a territory that was dominated by Carthaginian Empire. Carthage, located in North Africa , on the shores of what is now known as Tunisia, was a commercial empire that had an incomparable maritime army at the time, which controlled the entire western Mediterranean. However, despite having a very strong maritime force, its land army was not as powerful, and many members of its army were mercenaries fighting for money but not because they felt part of the Empire.

Rome at that time was an expanding empire throughout Italy with an identified army with its republic and had much experience in land combat strategies. Despite this, the Romans did not have a naval army as strong as the Carthaginian.

Date : Between 264 B.C., and 241 B.C.

Objective of the conflict : To dominate Sicily.

In 264 B.C., Rome invaded Sicily Island , which was dominated by Mamertines, a former mercenary group that had settled in those lands and served the Carthaginian Empire.  In this first war between Rome and Carthage, there were many naval battles that Rome could not win until, in one of the combats, it succeeded in capturing a rowing Carthaginian ship called Quinquerreme and began to produce this type of warships in many quantities, in order to surpass the naval army of Carthage and win this first war, becoming the new masters of the island of Sicily on March 10, 241 BC.

The first Punic War ended with Romans’ victory in the battle of the Aegadian islands and the peace agreements made with the Carthaginians.

Date : Between 218 B.C., and 201 B.C.

Objective of the conflict : To expand the Carthaginian Empire through the Iberian Peninsula to Rome.

The Second Punic War is known as Hannibal’s War or against Hannibal. It began in 218 B.C., and continued through 201 B.C.

Carthage was in a difficult situation after the defeat of the First Punic War. He had lost his power over Mediterranean Sea ; losing Sicily and the compensation imposed on him by Rome greatly affected his economy . As a consequence, Rome had the opportunity to take control of the Carthaginian islands of Corsica and Sardinia.

Carthage decides to expand its empire by the Iberian Peninsula (Hispania) and for this reason, it counts on the general Hannibal, who proposes to initiate a new war between Carthage and Rome to finish with the Romans.

Hannibal had a large land army that included elephants.  From the Iberian Peninsula it made its way to France and then to Italy . In these battles he progressively defeated the Roman army. In battles such as Trebbia and Lake Trasimeno, Hannibal demonstrated his power by annihilating the thousands of Roman soldiers.

When Hannibal arrived in Rome, he stopped and did not attack the walled city because he did not have the right army for this battle. It is important to remember that Hannibal also lost men in his combats, but not the battles he had had until that moment.

To attack Rome, Hannibal requested reinforcements from General Asdrubal, who would assist him with a second army, but this was defeated by Romans before meeting Hannibal.

Romans, for their part, followed two combat strategies developed by the Roman dictator Fabian Maximus to destroy Hannibal’s armies. The first was to keep him busy so that, he would not attack Rome. The second was to send an expedition led by general Publius Cornelius Scipio known as “the African”, to conquer the Iberian lands and finish with Asdrubal’ army.

When Hannibal found out that Asdrubal had been defeated, he tried to return to Carthage to face Publius Cornelius in Zama’s battle and lost it, putting an end to the Second Punic War.

Hannibal was able to win almost all the battles, but at the end, he lost the war, and this cost Carthage dearly, which ended up being conquered by Rome .

Date : Between 149 B.C. and 146 B.C.

Objective of the conflict: To attack the Carthaginian capital by the Romans.

The Third Punic War was the last major armed conflict between Rome and Carthage. It began in 149 B.C., and ended in 146 B.C., with Carthage’s destruction by Roman armies led by Publius Cornelius Scipio Emilianus , grandson of Scipio “the African”.

By the end of the Second Punic Wars, both sides had made peace. However, Rome remained alert to its previous enemy, and knew that it could not let it resurface because that would create a new war.

Carthage, that in previous times was a commercial empire, knew how to recover from its losses after the second war and began to prosper again.  But the Carthaginian people were not allowed to enter into combat with other people without the Roman Senate permission because of the peace treaty they had agreed. This is how the Romans gave secret orders to their allies in Africa to attack Carthage, and to create a confrontation that would break the peace agreement.

Carthaginians asked the Senate of Rome for permission to attack and the Romans did not allow it. This caused a lot of tension in Carthage and it was in 149 B.C. when the Carthaginians went to combat, and Rome took advantage of that moment to completely end the Carthaginian city, destroying their homes, selling the survivors as slaves and salting their land so that nothing would grow back in that place.

How to cite this article?

Briceño V., Gabriela. (2019). Punic Wars . Recovered on 24 February, 2024, de Euston96: https://www.euston96.com/en/punic-wars/

Recommended for you

Carolingian empire.

Second Industrial Revolution

Byzantine Empire

Storming of the Bastille

Bourbon reforms

Spanish Empire

Clash of Titans: the Punic Wars and their Lasting Echoes

This essay takes you on a riveting journey through the Punic Wars, the monumental clashes between ancient superpowers Rome and Carthage. It’s a gritty narrative filled with the drama of naval showdowns, audacious military strategies, and the larger-than-life characters who shaped these epic battles. From Rome’s surprising naval victories in the First Punic War to Hannibal’s daring Alps crossing in the Second, and the ruthless conclusion in the Third, the essay paints a vivid picture of the wars that redefined the Western world. It’s not just about the battles, though; it’s about the transformation of Rome, the birth of new warfare tactics, and the enduring legacy of these conflicts. Strap in for a wild ride through history, where strategy, courage, and the raw thirst for power take center stage. Also at PapersOwl you can find more free essay examples related to War.

How it works

Picture this: two powerhouse cities, Rome and Carthage, locked in a showdown that would reshape the known world. The Punic Wars weren’t just your average scuffles over land or power. Nope, these were epic battles where the stakes were nothing less than the future of Western civilization. Over a span of more than a century, these three wars saw bloodshed, brilliance, and betrayal, and trust me, they were anything but dull.

Let’s kick things off with the First Punic War.

Here’s Rome, dipping its toes into the big leagues of naval warfare. They were the underdogs at sea, but you know what? They didn’t let that stop them. Building an impressive fleet from scratch, the Romans went head-to-head with the seasoned Carthaginian navy. It was a tough fight, but Rome’s grit paid off, and they got their first taste of expansion beyond the Italian boot.

Now, fast forward to the Second Punic War, and things really heated up. Enter Hannibal – yeah, the guy with the elephants. He didn’t just cross mountains; he reshaped military strategy. His surprise Alpine vacation into Italy was gutsy, to say the least. The battles were fierce, and Rome had its back against the wall more than once. But under leaders like Scipio Africanus, they turned the tables, took the fight to Carthage, and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

The Third Punic War? Well, that was the brutal finale. Rome, not one to forget a grudge, decided it was time to close the Carthage chapter for good. It was a harsh end to a long-standing rivalry, with Carthage getting the short end of the stick, big time.

But here’s the thing: the Punic Wars were more than just a trio of conflicts. They were a crucible, a transformative period that reshaped Rome from a plucky republic to a full-blown empire. Innovations in warfare, shifts in politics, and the rise of iconic figures – the wars had it all.

Even now, centuries later, the echoes of the Punic Wars are still with us. They’re like the ultimate drama series, filled with strategy, courage, and the complexities of human nature. And just like any great story, they remind us of where we’ve been and, maybe, give us a glimpse of where we’re headed. So, grab your popcorn, because the saga of Rome and Carthage is one for the ages.

Cite this page

Clash of Titans: The Punic Wars and Their Lasting Echoes. (2024, Jan 26). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/clash-of-titans-the-punic-wars-and-their-lasting-echoes/

"Clash of Titans: The Punic Wars and Their Lasting Echoes." PapersOwl.com , 26 Jan 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/clash-of-titans-the-punic-wars-and-their-lasting-echoes/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Clash of Titans: The Punic Wars and Their Lasting Echoes . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/clash-of-titans-the-punic-wars-and-their-lasting-echoes/ [Accessed: 28 Apr. 2024]

"Clash of Titans: The Punic Wars and Their Lasting Echoes." PapersOwl.com, Jan 26, 2024. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/clash-of-titans-the-punic-wars-and-their-lasting-echoes/

"Clash of Titans: The Punic Wars and Their Lasting Echoes," PapersOwl.com , 26-Jan-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/clash-of-titans-the-punic-wars-and-their-lasting-echoes/. [Accessed: 28-Apr-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Clash of Titans: The Punic Wars and Their Lasting Echoes . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/clash-of-titans-the-punic-wars-and-their-lasting-echoes/ [Accessed: 28-Apr-2024]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

Overview of the Punic Wars Lesson

Learning objectives

In this lesson, students will gain a chronological understanding of the Punic Wars in Roman history. They will develop an awareness of the causes and the significant consequences of the changes resulting from this time. Students will have the opportunity to achieve this through choosing their own method of learning, from reading, research, and watching options, as well as the chance to engage in extension activities. This lesson includes a self-marking quiz for students to demonstrate their learning.

How would you like to learn?

Option 1: reading.

Step 1: Download a copy of the reading questions worksheet below:

Step 2: Answer the set questions by reading the following web page:

Option 2: Internet research

Download a copy of the research worksheet below and use the internet to complete the tables:

Option 3: Watch video

Step 1: Download a copy of the viewing questions worksheet below:

Step 2: Answer the set questions by watching the following video:

Watch on YouTube

Test your learning

Extension activities, resources for subscribers.

What do you need help with?

Download ready-to-use digital learning resources.

Copyright © History Skills 2014-2024.

Contact  via email

Punic Wars Essay

The Punic Wars were a series of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage lasting from 264 BC to 146 BC. At the time, it was one of the biggest wars to take place. Rome’s empire had been expanding for years. This did not sit well with Romans, resulting in them attacking Carthage in 264 BC (“First Punic War”). The first Punic War took place at the island at Sicily. Carthage had reign over all of this land except the city state, Syracuse. Rome had a powerful army, but no navy forces. In contrast, Carthage had a very strong navy. To Rome’s surprise, a Carthaginian ship washed up onto shore which made it extremely easy for the Roman’s to use it as a model for their own ships. Just having ships, however, did not make them battle ready; they needed a plan. The Romans added a bridge type structure to the front of their ships that would allow them to run onto the enemy ship and attack. Rome had turned a sea battle into a land battle. In Sicily, no one could seem to get the victory, so attacking Africa was Rome’s next move. The Romans gained control of Cape Ecnomus in 256 BC. Rome won the first Punic War in 241 BC, giving Rome all the Carthaginian land on Sicily (“First …show more content…

Most of these soldiers were farmers who returned home to find that their farmland had been sold to wealthy Romans. With no source of income, the soldiers fled to the city of Rome, in search of a job. The only solution was to send them back into war. This time, to Greece to fight against Philip V of Macedonia. This battle took place at the two hills called Cynoscephalae. Rome used an attacking formation called a legion. This formation was made up of smaller units that could maneuver themselves around easily during battle. In contrast, Macedonia used the phalanx formation. It consisted of large groups of men, designed to work together as one single unit. Rome emerged victorious yet again and conquered Greece (“The Third Punic

The Pnic Wars: The First Punic War

As more and more battles were won, it led to the birth of the Roman fleet. The First Punic War began in 264 B.C. Messana was in need of support to fight. The people turned to both the Carthagians and the Romans for help. Carthage already had control over Africa, parts of Spain, most of Sicily, and the islands of the Sardinian and Tyrrhenian Sea.

Compare And Contrast Han China And Rome

Armies began growing impacting the control over the Italian peninsula; launching three wars against Carthage. For example, the Punic wars were taken place to dominate the western Mediterranean. But, by the early second century BCE, Rome had control over the Mediterranean coastline. Transforming in the wave of production from agricultural being manufactured to mine goods. Roman’s build roads to creating towns but, was placed to control the flow of commerce.

Similarities Between Han China And Roman Empires

Category- These are the categories you have started to learn in APWH. These categories will help you clarify and solidify your arguments. Roman Empire Only Both Han China

How Did The Conquest Of Gaul Impact The Roman Empire

The conquest of Gaul by the Romans was a very key moment throughout ancient history. Gaul was captured by the Romans between the years 58 BC to 51 BC. Julius Cesar led an army campaign that would forever change the Roman empire. This conquest finally solidified Rome's power over Gaul and gave them control over the land that they were looking for. This ultimately shaped the later years in ancient history.

Timeline Of Julius Caesar Research Paper

In the early 60’s B.C he launched his own successful political and military career. He campaigned successfully for the consulship and struck a deal with two of Rome’s leading figures. All together they controlled rome until the 50 B.C, until Caesar and Pompey (one of Rome’s figure) after Crassus’s death, went to war against one another in 49 B.C. Caesar devoted his energies to the conquest of Gaul (France). After serving as consul in 59 B.C, Caesar became governor of Cisalpine and transalpine Gaul. In 58, Helvetti in Switzerland attempt to migrate into Gaul and Caesar thought they would be threat.

Why Is Julius Caesar Important

(www.harcourtschool.com). In 59 BC, Caesar was elected consul, the highest office of Rome and shortly after that he was made Governor of Gaul and was in charge of its military. Julius Caesar wanted to conquer the rest of Gaul that Rome did not rule. The triumvirate was falling apart because Crassus died in battle and Pompey was jealous of Caesars victories in Gaul. Pompey joined with Caesar’s enemies in the senate and told Caesar he needed to give up his army.

Why Romans Went To War With The Carthaginians

They knew that in order to do this they needed to have many resources and well located land so that they were successful in trade. The first Punic war took place during the span of 264- 241 BCE and is primarily known as the fight for Sicily.(Pugno) Carthage wanted to have control of Sicily because the location of the island held potential to be a great trade power. Carthage had already been in war with the people of Sicily before the Romans involved themselves.

Accomplishments Of Julius Caesar

In the second Gallic war, it was the Caesar against the Germans, Julius Caesar attacked first and the Germans did not expect it to happen that way. “For he did not expect that the Romans would attack the Germans, whose onset he thought they could not withstand, and he was amazed at the boldness of Caesar; besides, he saw that his own army was disturbed” (Plutarch 491). All the war tactics that Caesar used during these Gallic wars caused him to have Victory. Caesar defeated the Germans and the Helvetti, his war tactics helped make history of his Roman military achievements. In the gallic wars, Julius Caesar defeated the Gaul tribes, and he showed many skills that lead into his other many military achievements, and later this showed how the Roman Republic was weakened by the city being destroyed and then later Julius Caesar building it back with the coming of an eventually successful

Roman Empire Dbq Essay

But the Romans did not have any planning and that is why the empire grew weaker and weaker. The soldiers did not know how to fight anymore and were badly injured because of the decision to not wear armor. The Roman military was no match to some other armies but most importantly the Huns, a group that exceeded the rate of which they conquered everything in their path. They are very tough and will not back down without a challenge. Document D describes the Huns, ”Fired with an overwhelming desire for seizing the properties of others, the Swift moving and ungovernable people make their destructive way amid the pillage and slaughter of those who live around them” The fall of Rome is Attributed to invasions and Military break down because of this very purpose, there was finally a group that could overtake and overpower the army.

Compare And Contrast Military And Roman Military

The weapons that Greece used were spears and a shield. Rome used swords and shields. The Roman soldiers became the supreme predator of their day, unmatched in battle and relentless in conquest. The heavily outnumbered Greek warriors were called hoplites. They used superior tactics, training and arms to defeat two massive invasions.

Carthage And Rome: The Three Punic Wars

Conclusion The three Punic Wars between Carthage and Rome lasted over a century, beginning in 264 BC and ending with the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC. Rome was the dominant power throughout the Italian peninsula, while Carthage was the leading maritime power in the world. By defeating Carthage in the Punic Wars, Rome turned Africa into a province of its

Carthage And Rome: A Comparative Analysis

However once Rome recognized the true threat they faced from Carthage they also began to expand their naval capabilities. They recognized that Carthage held an advantage on the sea due to their long history of seamanship so Roman ingenuity designed the the Corvus. This was 30 foot long gangway which could be lowered from the ship's bow on to the decks of enemy ships and secured with a huge metal spike allowing them to unleash a squadron of Roman fighters on-board the enemy ship. The Romans also copied the designs of ships they captured and Archemedes, who was the greatest inventor of the age, came up with many improvements and original designs that turned many ships into "machines of war". These innovations allowed Rome to finally become a strong and great naval power coupled with the ships confiscated from

Livy Second Punic War Analysis

Livy believed that the Second Punic War was started by the siege of Saguntum by the Carthaginian Commander Hannibal and that this violated past treaties which left Rome no choice but to declare war on Carthage. In addition he believed the events that caused the war were entirely the fault of Carthage and that Rome did everything possible to prevent the dispute with Carthage from escalating. However there are inconsistencies in his work which undermine his reliability as a historian. The event that started the Second Punic War between Rome and Carthage was the siege of Saguntum by Hannibal.

HIST 1421: Trace How Carthage Became Almost The Equal Of Rome

The history of the Ancient empires, there were three Ancient historic Punic wars, which been designated within Carthage and Roman. This battle took place over almost a century, starting in 264 B.C. finally finished and concluding with the end of Carthage in 146 B.C (Morey, 1901). The war between these two nation has been for a long time and the power struggling was well known and the political division always created conflict between them. For instance, by the time, the first Punic war split out, even though the Roman Empire had an occasion to dominate and commanded the power over the Italian peninsula becoming a naval power.

Julius Caesar Thesis

In the beginning, Caesar lost a few battle against Vercingetorix but then defeated him ultimately. Vercingetorix with his men had taken refuge in a fortress in Alesia. Caesar trapped his rivals by building his own fortification walls around the fortress. After various attempts to win the battle, Vercingetorix had finally

More about Punic Wars Essay

Related topics.

• Roman Empire
• Ancient Rome
• Roman Republic
• Second Punic War

• Homework Help
• Essay Examples
• Citation Generator
• Writing Guides
• Essay Title Generator
• Essay Topic Generator
• Essay Outline Generator
• Flashcard Generator
• Plagiarism Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Conclusion Generator
• Thesis Statement Generator
• Introduction Generator
• Literature Review Generator
• Hypothesis Generator
• Punic Wars Essays

Punic Wars Essays (Examples)

29+ documents containing “punic wars” .

Filter by Keywords:(add comma between each)

Punic wars refers to three.

hen Hasdrubal was unable to keep Hispania, he abandoned that area and moved his troops to Italy to support Hannibal's campaign there. Like Hannibal had before him, Hasdrubal brought his army across the Alps. Knowing that those reinforcements could change the tide of the war, the Romans developed a plan to prevent Hasdrubal from reaching Hannibal. Using some of his soldiers as a distraction, Gaius Claudius Nero brought the remainder of his troops up behind Hasdrubal's troops, trapping them between two opposing fronts in a battle known as the Battle of the Metaurus River. The Romans were able to defeat the Carthaginian forces and kill Hasdrubal. They then took Hasdrubal's head and threw it into Hannibal's camp, which caused Hannibal to retreat. Hasdrubal's abandonment of Hispania allowed Scipio, the Roman commander who had been in charge of the war in Hispania, to invade Carthage. Hannibal left Italy to return….

Works Cited

Bagnall, Nigel. The Punic Wars. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1990.

Cornell, T.J. The Beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars.

New York: Routledge, 2003.

Hooker, Richard. "Rome: The Punic Wars." The Conquest of the Hellenistic Empires. 1999.

The Carthage and Roman Wars

Second Punic War The Punic wars, a total of three wars were violent clashes that took place between ome and Carthage and spanned across a timeline of almost a Century starting from 264 BC and ending in 146 BC with the destruction of Carthage. During this time, ome had established itself as the dominant power across the Italian Peninsula while Carthage was a powerful city state that was in Northern Africa had developed itself into a strong maritime power in the world at the time. In the context of this discussion however, the second Punic war will be the area of focus and in particular the causes of the war. In the years leading to 237 BC, ome had taken over the control of Sardinia and Corsica. However, Carthage managed to establish another base of influence in Spain in 237 BC with the leadership of general Hamilcar Barca and after his….

Morey W.C., (1901). Outline of Roman History: The Second Punic War (BC 218-201). Retrieved April 3, 2016 from  http://www.forumromanum.org/history/morey15.html 

Tufts University, (n.d). Polybius Histories: First Cause of the Second Punic War. Retrieved April 3, 2016 from  http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0234%3Abook%3D3%3Achapter%3D9

History War and Peace in

Another explanation and reason of the necessity of war in Ancient Rome is economical. There are several different perspectives on this. First of all, the Roman society was essentially a society using extensively slave labor as the most important form of labor in existence. This basically ranged from constructions to simple chores around the house and often to farming as well, entertainment of its citizens and in other battles. A society relying so much on slaves for its own economic benefits could only necessarily force wars and battles in order to constantly keep a thorough supply of slaves available for work. Indeed, in general, the population of a nation that had been defeated in battle would have either perished in the fights or would have been enslaved. Enslavement meant not only work in the city of Rome (or elsewhere in the empire), but also the possibility of being sold in exchange of….

Bibliography

1. Millar, Fergus. Emperors, Frontiers and Foreign Relations, 31 BC to AD 378.

2. Harris, William. War and Imperialism in Republican Rome. Clarendon Press. Oxford Millar, Fergus. Emperors, Frontiers and Foreign Relations, 31 BC to AD 378.

Harris, William. War and Imperialism in Republican Rome. Clarendon Press. Oxford

Strategy -- Rulers States and War it

trategy -- Rulers, tates and War It is very difficult to look at the history of humanity and define a number of common, yet intangible philosophies of action that seem to be part of the overall human condition. One of these intangibles is the human capacity to produce both incredible beauty and horrific evil -- both of which occur during war. In fact, we may ask -- what is war? Every historical period from Ancient Mesopotamia to the present has added a new meaning to the word, but the very essence remains the same. War is a conflict between groups, a way to solve a political or social disagreement through force. Because war has been part of the human condition for millennia, however, we can look at it from both a theoretical and practical aspect of a way to use violence as a solution to problems. One of the most….

Clausewitz, C. On War. Edited by M. Howard. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1984.

Keegan, J. A History of Warfare. New York: Vintage, 1994.

Murray, W., et al., eds. The Making of Strategy: Rulers, States and War. Cambridge: Cambridge

University Press, 1996.

Cold War the Heightened Tension

S. administration after Truman's adopted Kennan's policy of 'containment' or its variation as a cornerstone of their foreign policy right until the eventual collapse of Communism in 1989. ("Kennan and Containment" n.d.) eferences Bell, P.M.H. (2001). The World since 1945 -- an International History. New York: Oxford University Press George F. Kennan on the Web" (2005). History Politics and Future. etrieved on May 28, 2005 at http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/2496/future/kennan.html Historian Walter Lefeber on Truman's Soviet Policy." (2000). PBS Online. etrieved on May 28, 2005 at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/truman/filmmore/it_1.html Kennan and Containment." (n.d.) Bureau of Public Affairs: U.S. Department of State. etrieved on May 28, 2005 at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/cwr/17601.htm Legvold, . (2005). "Cold War." Article in Encyclopedia Encarta Online. etrieved on May 28, 2005 at http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761569374/Cold_War.html#p11 While the U.S. represented democracy, individual liberty and capitalism, the U.S.S.. was committed to the spread of the communist revolution among the 'down-trodden' masses of the world The USS had already established a pro-Communist provisional government in Poland….

Bell, P.M.H. (2001). The World since 1945 -- an International History. New York: Oxford University Press

George F. Kennan on the Web" (2005). History Politics and Future. Retrieved on May 28, 2005 at http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/2496/future/kennan.html

Historian Walter Lefeber on Truman's Soviet Policy." (2000). PBS Online. Retrieved on May 28, 2005 at  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/truman/filmmore/it_1.html 

Kennan and Containment." (n.d.) Bureau of Public Affairs: U.S. Department of State. Retrieved on May 28, 2005 at  http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/cwr/17601.htm

Olmec Although Scientists Found Artifacts and Art

Olmec Although scientists found artifacts and art objects of the Olmecs; until this century they did not know about the existence of the Olmecs. Most of the objects which were made by this community were associated with other civilizations, such as Mayan, Toltec or Chichimecan. The Olmec lived between 1600 B.C. And 1400 B.C. In South Mexico. The name of this tribe comes from an Aztec word "ollin" which means "land of rubber." At first they ate fish and they later start to farm, and that made it possible for them to "develop the first major civilization in Mesoamerica." (The Olmec Civilization) Thanks to the steady food supplies the Olmec population grew and some came to have other occupations. "Some became potters or weavers. Others became priests or teachers." (Ibidem) Once the population grew, so did their farming villages which developed into cities. The present-day city of San Lorenzo was built….

References:

1. The Olmec Civilization, Retrieved December 14, 2012, from the Pleasant Valley School website:  http://www.pvsd.k12.ca.us/180120521134440680/lib/180120521134440680/11-2_SG_7th.pdf 

2. Villeacas, Daniel, Mother Culture of Mexico: The Olmecs, Denver Public Schools, 2005, Retrieved December 14, 2012, from the Denver Public Schools website:  http://etls.dpsk12.org/documents/Alma/units/MotherCultureMexicoOlmecs.pdf 

3. Olmec -- Masterworks of Ancient Mexico, Retrieved December 14, 2012, from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art website:  http://www.lacma.org/eduprograms/EvesforEds/OlmecEssay.pdf 

4. Hansen, Valerie, Curtis Kenneth, Curtis, Kenneth R., Voyages in World History: To 1600, Volume 1, Cengage Learning, December 30, 2008

Titus Livy Book Titus Livius

The consul was wounded in the battle. It was here that the one who will become Hannibal's greatest rival, the consul's son Publius Cornelius Scipio, did his first deed of valor, when he helped save his father (Livius also gives the alternate account of the Consul's rescue by a Ligurian slave, but he says he wishes the most popular account, accepted by most of the historians, to be correct). After this, the Roman cavalry retreated and their army broke camp the same night and crossed the Po River to the town of Placentia (Piacenza). Pursued by Hannibal, the Consul and his army retreated further over the river Trebia and set camp in a strong position, to await the arrival of his colleague, the Consul Tiberius Sempronius Longus, who had been recalled from the operations in Sicily. On the front in Sicily, the actions were fought mainly by the navies, with….

Bibliography:

Mommsen, Theodor. 2006. The History of Rome, Book III; Hard Press

Titus Livius. Ab Urbe Condita; Books Nine to Twenty-Six. Project Gutenberg eBook  http://www.gutenberg.org/files/10907/10907-h/10907-h.htm#book21 . Last retrieved on February 25, 2010

Andreola Rossi. 2004. Parallel Lives: Hannibal and Scipio in Livy's Third Decade; Transactions of the American Philological Association (1974-), Vol. 134, No. 2. pp. 359-381 Published by: The Johns Hopkins University Press

B.D. Hoyos. Hannibal: What Kind of Genius?. 1983. Greece & Rome, Second Series, Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 171-180 Published by: Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Classical Association

Rome vs Carthage History of

Summary of the Punic Wars The Punic Wars refer to the collective names of a series of three separate wars between Carthage and ome, which took place from 264 to 146 BC. The wars were fought between the two strongest contenders for control over the central Mediterranean Sea of the time. These wars ended with the destruction of Carthage, thus ending the city's period as an independent power and an important trade center. The city would later become an important trading center inside the oman Empire. eferences Bagnall, N. 2002. The Punic Wars: 264-146 BC. Botley, Oxford: Osprey Publishing. Cottrell, L. 1992. Hannibal: Enemy of ome. Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo Press. Goldsworthy, a. 2002. The Punic Wars. London: Cassell Publications. Goldsworthy, a. 2004. The Fall of Carthage: The Punic Wars 265-146 BC. London: Cassell Publications. Huby, P. 2003. Carthage. Stockport, England: Dewi Lewis Publishing. Lazenby, J.F. 1998. Hannibal's War. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press. Prevas, J. 2001. Hannibal….

Bagnall, N. 2002. The Punic Wars: 264-146 BC. Botley, Oxford: Osprey Publishing.

Cottrell, L. 1992. Hannibal: Enemy of Rome. Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo Press.

Goldsworthy, a. 2002. The Punic Wars. London: Cassell Publications.

Goldsworthy, a. 2004. The Fall of Carthage: The Punic Wars 265-146 BC. London: Cassell Publications.

Carthage and Rome

Carthage and Rome Comparing Carthage and Rome One of the greatest wars Rome ever fought was against Carthage -- and it was actually a war that happened three times. Called the Punic Wars (Punic another name for Phoenician -- the nationality of the men who founded Carthage), the contests revealed much about both nations, and created heroes and legends for all antiquity to marvel over. This paper will compare and contrast the two civilizations of Rome and Carthage from the standpoint of "persons within the community," showing just how such persons helped both powers came to be and how they went on to fare when they both began to war with one another. Beginnings Started near Tunis at around the end of the ninth century BC, Carthage took over the rule of "leader" amongst the colonies of Phoenicia nearly three hundred years later when in the sixth century BC Tyre fell. In Phoenician, Carthage….

Knox, E.L. (n.d.) The Punic Wars. Boise State. Retrieved from  http://www.boisestate.edu/courses/westciv/punicwar/ 

Lendering, J. (2004). Hannibal, son of Gesco. Livius.org. Retrieved from  http://www.livius.org/ha-hd/hannibal/hannibal_2.html 

Virgil. (1861). Aeneid. [trans. H. Frieze]. New York, NY: D. Appleton and Company.

Carthage Empire the Origin of the Carthaginian

Carthage Empire The origin of the Carthaginian Empire can be traced back to 814 C, North Africa where Carthage was situated towards the east of Lake Tunis where we can locate Tunisia today. Carthage was basically founded by Phoenician settlers which came from Tyre city which is now known as Sur in Lebanon. Queen Dido was credited with being the founder of this city and since the establishment of this empire; there are numerous myths that can be traced back to the association with Romans and Greeks, essentially their literature (owman). Success of the Carthage Empire The Carthage city was famous for trade and that proved to be the means of their survival and helped the Carthaginians gain massive amounts of power and spreading the trade routes and networking all along the Mediterranean. In the early 6th century C, Hanno, a famous Carthaginian explorer went on his trip sailing till the coastline of….

Bagnall, Nigel. The Punic Wars: Rome, Carthage, and the struggle for the mediterranean. Hutchinson Publishers, 2005.

Bowman, David. The Carthaginian Empire. Bluewood Publishing Limited, 2010.

Durham, David Anthony. Pride of the Carthage. Anchor Publishers, 2006.

Goldsworthy, Adrian. The Punic Wars. Cassell Publishers, 2001.

Roman History Rome v Carthage

After this, there could have been very little perceived threat left; not only were the Carthaginian's surrendering rather peacefully, but they were even giving up their means of waging war effectively. The giving up of weapons in an age when manufacture and shipping -- the two methods by which any commodity, military or otherwise, can be obtained -- took an extended period of time meant that the Carthaginians were showing themselves to desire peace not only in the short-term, but as a general social principle. Their submission to the Romans, then, should have been the end of the war. If the reason behind Rome's military invasion of the Carthaginian territory was the possible threat the area presented to Rome, then its disarmament would have solved that problem. The Romans refused to let the issue go, however, demanding that the entire city of Carthage be destroyed right to the ground. It was the….

Carthage the Carthaginian Defeat in

(Polybius 6.42). He contrasted this with the Greeks, who placed their camps according to the advantages and disadvantages conferred by the terrain. (Polybius 6.42). In this way, the Roman soldiers could rely on military protocol and camp life being the same even no matter where they were and who was commanding. Another outcome of Rome's system of military organization was the remarkable discipline of the Roman army. Only property-owners were allowed to serve in the Roman military, which meant that all Roman soldiers had extra incentive to obey commands, to never retreat and to never desert, for fear of squandering their property and reputation back home. Roman military units were designed in a Gestalt style which reduced the effect of externalities such as inadequate troop strength, partial routs, or bad commanders. Polybius described the virtues of the Roman Maniple: "The order of a Roman force in battle makes it very difficult to….

Lazenby, J. 1996. "Was Maharbal Right?" In T. Cornell et al. (eds.), the Second Punic War: a Reappraisal. London. 39-48.

Salmon, E.T. 1960. "The Strategy of the Second Punic War," Greece and Rome 7: 131-142.

Donaldson, G.H. 1962. "Modern Idiom in an Ancient Context. Another look at the Strategy of the Second Punic War," Greece and Rome 9: 134-141.

Eckstein, a.M. 2006. Mediterranean Anarchy, Interstate War, and the Rise of Rome. Berkeley,

Polybius in Polybius' Histories He

There were was much more to the conflict than a small battle over Sicily exploding into an all out Naval conflict. It just so happened that a local conflict involved two powers, but like many other wars throughout history, it only took a spark to ignite a much bigger battle that was waiting to be instigated. From the perspective of an ancient historian Polybius leaves out very little necessary information and his level of information is consistent with that of ancient histories. However, to modern historians it would be helpful if other information was included. Some statistics as the nature of Rome's growth and expansion perhaps would help to show how Rome was a burgeoning power rising to the level of the Carthaginians. There must have been much more to the conflict than just the military tactical maneuvers and subsequent domestic responses that were made to the events of the war. Polybius leaves out much of these details, or maybe he is….

Rise of Rome and How it Differed

rise of Rome and how it differed from other empires of the ancient world. There are six references used for this paper. There have been a number of different empires since the beginning of time. It is interesting to look at how Rome broke with the Etruscans and succeeded as a powerful empire, as well as its differences from other empires of the time. The Etruscans The Etruscans settled into central Italy prior to 800 B.C, dominating the lands from the PO valley to Campania, and "established a prosperous empire with a complex culture, while reducing the indigenous population to servile status (unknown, Italy)." The Greek culture was a strong influence on the Etruscans, "their city-states were ruled by kings and their territory included Rome until it shrugged of the Etruscan yoke (Cavendish, foundation)." They were driven from the Po Valley by the Celts in the 4th century B.C. Breaking Away group of Roman….

Bower, Bruce. Early Rome: surprises below the surface. (excavations find urban civilization in 7th century B.C.). Science News. (1989): 14 January

Cavendish, Richard. The foundation of Rome: April 21st, 753 B.C. (Months Past). History

Today. (2003): 01 April.

The Rise of Ancient Rome. (accessed 26 October, 2003) www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch15.htm).w.fsmitha.com/h1/ch15.htm

Enforcing Social Order in History

Sumptuary Laws in the Roman Empire The Roman Republic and the Roman Empire were both grandiose and both are a major part of the history of the world. However, they were quite different in many significant ways but they were also similar in some ways as it relates to social structure, the way people dressed and how society proceeded and developed. The major difference between the two was that the Senate and people had a lot of power in the Republic while the Emperor reigned supreme in the Roman Empire. However, the differences are a lot deeper than that in some ways. hile some people conflate the Roman Empire and Roman Republic, there is a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to Roman History. Analysis The main differences between the Roman Empire and the Roman Republic are fairly easy to list. hen it came to the Roman Republic, there are….

Encyclopedia.com,. 'Sumptuary Laws Facts, Information, Pictures | Encyclopedia.Com

Articles About Sumptuary Laws'. Encyclopedia.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 27 Apr.

Fashion Encyclopedia,. 'Sumptuary Laws Regulate Luxury - Fashion, Costume, And

Drama - World

hen Hasdrubal was unable to keep Hispania, he abandoned that area and moved his troops to Italy to support Hannibal's campaign there. Like Hannibal had before him, Hasdrubal…

Research Paper

History - Ancient

Second Punic War The Punic wars, a total of three wars were violent clashes that took place between ome and Carthage and spanned across a timeline of almost a…

Another explanation and reason of the necessity of war in Ancient Rome is economical. There are several different perspectives on this. First of all, the Roman society was essentially a…

Book Review

trategy -- Rulers, tates and War It is very difficult to look at the history of humanity and define a number of common, yet intangible philosophies of action that…

S. administration after Truman's adopted Kennan's policy of 'containment' or its variation as a cornerstone of their foreign policy right until the eventual collapse of Communism in 1989. ("Kennan…

Olmec Although scientists found artifacts and art objects of the Olmecs; until this century they did not know about the existence of the Olmecs. Most of the objects which…

The consul was wounded in the battle. It was here that the one who will become Hannibal's greatest rival, the consul's son Publius Cornelius Scipio, did his first…

Summary of the Punic Wars The Punic Wars refer to the collective names of a series of three separate wars between Carthage and ome, which took place from 264 to…

Carthage and Rome Comparing Carthage and Rome One of the greatest wars Rome ever fought was against Carthage -- and it was actually a war that happened three times. Called the…

Carthage Empire The origin of the Carthaginian Empire can be traced back to 814 C, North Africa where Carthage was situated towards the east of Lake Tunis where we can…

Research Proposal

After this, there could have been very little perceived threat left; not only were the Carthaginian's surrendering rather peacefully, but they were even giving up their means of waging…

(Polybius 6.42). He contrasted this with the Greeks, who placed their camps according to the advantages and disadvantages conferred by the terrain. (Polybius 6.42). In this way, the…

There were was much more to the conflict than a small battle over Sicily exploding into an all out Naval conflict. It just so happened that a local conflict involved…

rise of Rome and how it differed from other empires of the ancient world. There are six references used for this paper. There have been a number of different…

Sumptuary Laws in the Roman Empire The Roman Republic and the Roman Empire were both grandiose and both are a major part of the history of the world. However, they…

Conclusion Of The Punic War

More than a thousand years ago, one of the largest and most major wars in the history of time had taken place. The Punic wars between Rome and Carthage over the Italian Peninsula. The term ‘Punic’ comes from the Latin word ‘Punicus’ meaning Carthaginian. This was a very interesting event, as it happened three times! And all three times it was Rome who was the victor in these wars. It even sparked many historians’ interests around the world and tempted them to find out more. The wars had a duration of over a hundred years. After the first Punic war where Rome won, the second war begun because Carthage wanted to take revenge on Rome. Carthage lost the second Punic war again and got so humiliated and angry that they took revenge by starting a third Punic war which they also lost. The first Punic war was actually Rome’s first experience in war. This essay will look into the three Punic wars in detail. During 264-241 B.C., Carthage decided that they wanted to take control of Messana and were about to start a war. They wanted to seize control of the sea and the areas around it. They monitored the seas …show more content…

So in conclusion, the Punic wars was a waste of time, money, and lives for the Carthaginians since they ended up not getting the land anyway. Whereas, it was very advantageous for the Romans, since every time they one a war they also got a big piece of land that came with their victory, which was a big bonus and helped the romans build up their empire. Rome was also very aggressive, as they seemed to be the reason Punic wars kept sprouting. In my opinion, there should have been a better war system for gaining land and building the empire than just threatening people and randomly starting war. There also should be some agreement between the leaders of the two countries. For example, maybe each country gets half of that land or one of them leaves the area. My favorite war moment was his achievement when Hannibal crossed the

Essay on the Punic Wars

There were three Punic or Carthaginian Wars is Roman history. These were between 264 and 146 BC. These wars were the first great wars of Roman expansion outside Italy. The enemy of Rome had a large empire that stretched along the coast of North America and southern Spain and some parts of Sicily. This empire was known as Carthage. The purpose of these wars was to decide which power would become the dominant force around the Mediterranean Sea.

Similarities Between Rome And Carthage

Carthage gained her power through the wealth of trade and commere, bringing the northern African colonies and cities of Sicily under control, solidified her dominance in the Mediterranean. Through wealth comes strength and the ability to obtain more wealth by expanding one’s territory, which brought Carthage to desire the Greek cities of Italy also (Morey, 1901). The very cities bordering Rome, leading to the beginning of hostilities between Carthage and Rome.

Essay On Why Rome Won The Second Punic War

The Romans won the Second Punic war for a variety of reasons. These included the role and strategy of the Roman Senate and the failure of the Carthaginian government to support Hannibal. Rome’s strong control of the sea as well as Carthage's failure to rebuild their navy contributed greatly. The actions of Fabius Maximus and Scipio Africanus brought about the decline of Hannibal's momentum in Italy and his final defeat. Thus, there was no single reason as to why Rome were victorious against Carthage.

To What Extent Was Rome Responsible for the Punic Wars? Essay

This exhausting conflict was, according to Caven, a ‘contest in three rounds’ in which the Romans fought first for control of Sicily, then for the leadership of the western Mediterranean and finally to determine the survival or extinction of Carthage.

Roman Punic War

Fought between Carthage and Rome, the punic wars may have been the worst wars in Roman history. The first punic war probably would have been lost by Rome but they had an adaptive Navy. The Carthaginian Navy was very dangerous and have strong ships. The Roman navy invented devices to attach their ships to the Carthaginian ships and steal their ships with Rome's strong army. This advantage helped Rome to win the first punic war. The second punic war was fought in the western and eastern mediterranean. Hannibal's army defeated Rome multiple times but the Roman general Scipio finally assinates Hannibal and Rome crushes their most hated enemy. The third punic war was the last of the punic. In the third punic war the Roman army made it inside Carthage City and raided their valuables killed their people and salted their land to prevent agriculture. The Third Punic war ended wars for a while in Rome and made the imperial era possible. After the punic wars Rome's power economy and morals were higher than ever and their amount of conquered land was higher than ever as

How Did Rome Argue The First Punic War?

This war was costly to both sides but Carthage suffered more seriously owing to the corruption and incompetence of her government (which embezzled funds which should have gone to the military and consistently refused to send much needed supplies and reinforcements to generals in the field), the mostly mercenary army (who often simply refused to fight), and an over-reliance on the brilliance of Hamilcar Barca. Further, however, they seriously underestimated their enemy. While Carthage would largely ignore the war, leaving the fighting to Hamilcar and his mercenaries, Rome would be building and equipping more ships and training more men. Even though Rome had never had a navy before the First Punic War, they emerged in 241 BCE as masters of the

The Punic War

The Roman Empire was said to be one of the most powerful and largest empires in all of history. The Roman Empire had a monstrous army and was always on the hunt for new land. Also, the Romans built a strong wall around the border to prevent Barbarian invasions. In order to defend and preserve the empire, the Romans were very militaristic. They used a variety of procedures to preserve the empire. The Romans fought in numerous wars to defend their empire, and they were very successful. An example of the Romans fighting to defend their empire was the Punic Wars. The Punic Wars were fought between Rome and Carthage. The Romans felt that the Carthaginians were an imminent danger to their empire, so they thought quickly to destroy them. Throughout the Punic Wars, the Roman army faced very tough military forces, including

How Did Rome Win The Punic Wars

Rome and Carthage were bitter rivals. The strife and the inevitable war between these two states were growing stronger due to them both wanting control over the Mediterranean Sea. For instance, after Rome had won the victory over Sicily, Carthage had deemed vengeance against Rome. The primary conflicts between these two states regarded the Roman victories over Carthage. Rome was known for its preeminent status, and was mostly involved with the military domain while Carthage was elaborated in the trading empire, they grew to be envious and had declared war against Rome.”The Romans were furious with indignation because the vanquished had dared to take the offensive against their conquerors; the Carthaginians bitterly resented what they regarded as the tyrannical and rapacious conduct of Rome.” Hamilcar was one of the generals who had led the first Punic war in 264 to 241 BC. The Punic wars were essential because Carthage was Rome’s prominent rival, which led to the establishment of wealth, and territory that authorized Rome to expand into a

Punic Wars Research Paper

Both cities, Rome and Carthage, wanted the island of Sicily for commercial purposes. "In 264 B.C. Cartlidge threaten to seize the Strait of Messina, A narrow

How Is Carthage Equaled Rome

Carthage and Rome were at their best times when they engaged in war. They both had rich empires that controlled vast territories. Rome had an excellent political organization and large armies with loyal soldiers that fought til death. Carthage was financially strong to maintain its armies and its navy. Carthage had brilliant army leaders that would control many towns around the Mediterranean that benefited her in commerce. The Punic wars brought sorrow and pain to Rome but also helped Rome to become a naval power without planing for

The Most Significant Outcome Of The Second Punic War

This war between the Romans and their most powerful enemies, the Carthaginians, incurred devastating losses on both sides, with the Romans eventually rising to victory. Following their victory, the Roman Republic was almost geographically unrecognisable and had been moulded by the Second Punic War into the “super-powered Empire of the Mediterranean” (UNRV History, Results of the Second Punic War, 2015).

Rise of the Roman Republic Essay

• 1 Works Cited

With the introduction of the hoplite phalanx to the Roman army, came a multitude of wars and long drawn out campaigns that the Romans were involved in throughout the republic period. One such campaign or campaigns that set the Roman republic as the uncontested superpower in the Mediterranean was the Punic Wars. Rome fought three wars against Carthage between 264 and 146 BCE. These wars constituted major events in the history of Rome and the Mediterranean basin (Marcel Le Glay 2009) p. 73. Though these wars were fought for reasons such as competing economics, revenge (most notably the Carthaginian general Hannibal), and a fear that could be related in today’s terms of opposing forces such as (the United States and Soviet Union feared each other during the Cold War) the fact is in the end Rome defeated the Carthaginians, not only were the Carthaginians defeated, but the city of Carthage was demolished and the people massacred or sold into slavery so as not to threaten the Romans ever again. In the fall of the city, in obedience to the Senate’s orders the inhabitants were reduced to slavery or forced to emigrate, the town was burnt and soil was

Carthage And The Punic Wars Essay

     The First Punic War started in 264 BC and lasted to 241 BC. In the first half of the 3rd century BC Carthage held many territories that made it easy to control and dominate the western Mediterranean Sea. However, when they

Causes of the Second Punic War

The two biggest powers of the Mediterranean where always destined to come head to head once again after the First Punic War (264 to 241 BC). There was no clear victor and the terms set by the Romans were extremely harsh. Even though the main cause of the second war was the war on Saguntum you must go back all the way to the ending of the First War. The war on Saguntum was seen by Polybius to be just the first incident in the war. In this essay I will look into the causes of the Second Punic War with the intention of backing up Polybius argument that the war on Saguntum was just the first incident and not a cause as Livy views it. I will be doing this with close analysis of our ancient sources. Three main causes will be

Outcomes From The Second Punic War

The second Púnic war (herein after referred to as, “the War”) came to a close in 201 BCE, following Scípio’s victory over Hánnibal at the battle of Záma. After seventeen years of warfare, and at a great loss of life on both sides, Rome defeated Cárthage and came out on top as the new superpower in the Mediterránean region. The outcome of this war brought consequences to Cárthage and created opportunities for Rome (Morey, 1901).

Related Topics

• Second Punic War