Rome gained a dominant position in the Mediterranean after defeating Carthage in these wars, and only Greece remained as a power in addition to Rome until Diocletian split the Roman Empire into the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire in 286 C.E. Abandoning that tactic resulted in a major Roman loss at the Battle of Cannae (216); that defeat drew the Romans together, and, though worn down, they managed to rally, eventually defeating Hannibal at the Battle of Zama (202). Carthage was compelled to give up its fleet and pay a significant indemnity to Rome in silver as a result of Hannibals defeats in the Second Punic War, effectively ending Carthages empire in the western Mediterranean and giving Rome control over Spain.What effect did the Punic wars have on small Roman farmers?By the end of the Second Punic War, much of the land had been destroyed; small farmers could not afford to restore the land; Patricians and wealthy businesspeople bought small farms and combined them to make latifundias. [191], The historian Richard Miles describes Cannae as "Rome's greatest military disaster". The Punic Wars, also known as the Carthaginian Wars, occurred between the Roman Republic and the Carthaginian (Punic) empire from 264 to 146 bce. By 212BC the full complement of the legions deployed would have been in excess of 100,000 men, plus, as always, a similar number of allied troops. In 218 Hannibal attacked Roman territory, starting from Spain and . While Carthage was unhappy with this development, there was little they could do about it. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [225] This strategy resulted in two separate battles in 211BC, usually referred to jointly as the battle of the Upper Baetis. There was also extensive fighting in Iberia (modern Spain and Portugal), Sicily, Sardinia and North Africa. The fighting took place primarily on Sicily and its surrounding waters, as well as in North Africa, Corsica and Sardinia. [266] The Romans launched an assault on the walls; after confused fighting they broke into the city, but, lost in the dark, withdrew. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The territory and allies of Rome and Carthage immediately before the start of the Second Punic War. New territories increased Rome's wealth, as Rome gained access to new resources. [240] Scipio gave battle to and destroyed two large Carthaginian armies. This was not popular with parts of the Roman army, public and senate, since he avoided battle while Italy was being devastated by the enemy. Neither Carthage nor Rome successfully won the battle over . The Second Punic War began in 218BC and witnessed the Carthaginian general Hannibal's crossing of the Alps and invasion of mainland Italy. [62][63], In 260BC Romans set out to construct a fleet and used a shipwrecked Carthaginian quinquereme as a blueprint for their own. His surprise entry into the Italian peninsula led to the cancellation of Rome's planned campaign for the year: an invasion of Africa. To review: from 264 to 146 BCE, the Romans fought a series of three wars with the rival state of Carthage. As a result, the Roman infantry was surrounded with no means of escape. How was Rome ruled after General Sulla died? Rome was better disposed to protracted warfare all three times they went up against Carthage. For each word in the chart, identify a synonym - a word with the same denotation. Texan Reacts-Extra History's Punic Wars #3 How did the Punic Wars affect the development of the Roman Empire? [120], The Romans rebuilt their fleet again in 243BC after the Senate approached Rome's wealthiest citizens for loans to finance the construction of one ship each, repayable from the reparations to be imposed on Carthage once the war was won. [34][35], Carthaginian citizens only served in their army if there was a direct threat to the city of Carthage. and ending in Roman . The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. "|not ordinary; cruel|beyond a person's ability to survive| In 205BC this war ended with a negotiated peace. Answer (1 of 7): By fighting them in the first place. [2][3] Polybius's work is considered broadly objective and largely neutral between Carthaginian and Roman points of view. The treaties of friendship between Rome and Carthage were based mainly on trade. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. These developments made possible the subsequent Roman overseas wars of conquest. The three Punic Wars between Carthage and Rome took place over nearly a century, beginning in 264 B.C. They favored the patrician class and did not like that Caesar was popular with the plebeians. Most of the First Punic War was centered around the island of Sicily and . [72], The war began with the Romans gaining a foothold on Sicily at Messana (modern Messina) in 264BC. What was one way the consuls were prevented from having too much power? [161] A Roman fleet carrying the Iberian-bound army landed at Rome's ally Massalia (modern Marseille) at the mouth of the Rhone,[162] but Hannibal evaded the Romans and they continued to Iberia. Hasdrubal fled Spain, following his brother over the Alps into Italy to join forces. [225] In 206BC the Carthaginians ended this drain on their resources by dividing several Numidian kingdoms with him. [112] It was to be seven years before Rome again attempted to field a substantial fleet, while Carthage put most of its ships into reserve to save money and free up manpower. How did the Punic Wars affect Carthage? Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. Which statement best describes a challenge in the Roman economy? Rome was able to gain its empire in large part by extending some form of citizenship to many of the people it conquered. Rome brought in an army to settle the dispute and Carthage took that as an act of war. The name Punic comes from the word Phoenician (Phoinix in the Greek, Poenus from Punicus in Latin) as applied to the citizens of Carthage, who were of Phoenician ethnicity. [17] Modern historians usually take into account the writings of various Roman annalists, some contemporary; the Sicilian Greek Diodorus Siculus; and the later Roman historians[14] Plutarch, Appian,[note 2] and Dio Cassius. The majority were deployed in southern Italy in field armies of approximately 20,000 men each. [12][15][16] Several of the city states in southern Italy allied with Hannibal or were captured when pro-Carthaginian factions betrayed their defences. Sources. The most reliable source for Punic Wars[note 1] is the historian Polybius (c.200 c.118 BC), a Greek sent to Rome in 167BC as a hostage. [64] As novice shipwrights, the Romans built copies that were heavier than the Carthaginian vessels; thus they were slower and less manoeuvrable. All except the smallest towns were too well fortified for Hannibal to take by assault and blockade could be a long-drawn-out affair, or, if the target was a port, impossible. They washed up onto the banks of the river, where the wolf found them. What is a piece of land surrounded by water on three sides? Punic Wars: There was three wars called the Punic Wars were Rome Fought with the Carthage. What were the Roman consuls allowed to do during times of crisis? [122] Polybius regarded the war as "the longest, most continuous and most severely contested war known to us in history". Diogenes. In 218 Hannibal attacked Roman territory, starting from Spain and marching overland into Italy with troops and elephants. The Romans certainly took this view and demanded Hannibals surrender. Carthage's new allies felt little sense of community with Carthage, or even with each other. [260], As well as manning the walls of Carthage, the Carthaginians formed a field army under Hasdrubal the Boetharch, which was based 25 kilometres (16mi) to the south. First Punic War, also called First Carthaginian War, (264-241 bce) first of three wars between the Roman Republic and the Carthaginian (Punic) empire that resulted in the destruction of Carthage. This war would rage on for over twenty years and feature some of the most significant naval battles of the ancient world. How did both the construction of roads and the Mediterranean Sea contribute to the expansion of the Roman Republic? The Romans were a military people first and foremost. [150] At some time during the next six years Rome made a separate agreement with the city of Saguntum, which was situated well south of the Ebro. The Second Punic War forced them to abandon Spain and the Third ended Carthage. Hannibal knew nothing of his brother's whereabouts until Hasdrubal's severed head was thrown into his camp. [219], After Publius Cornelius Scipio invaded the Carthaginian homeland in 204BC, defeating the Carthaginians in two major battles and winning the allegiance of the Numidian kingdoms of North Africa, Hannibal and the remnants of his army were recalled. The Carthaginians refused to comply with this and so began the Third Punic War. The Mercenary War lasted from 241-237 BCE and, while Carthage was engaged in this conflict, Rome occupied the Carthaginian colonies of Sardinia and Corsica. The Romans' lodgement between the Ebro and the Pyrenees blocked the route from Iberia to Italy and greatly hindered the despatch of reinforcements from Iberia to Hannibal. View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Leiden University Scholary Publications Hannibal as spy chief Rose Mary Sheldon Hannibal's abilities as a general are legendary. The ones referred to in this article are all Euboic (or Euboeic) talents, of approximately 26 kilograms (57lb). The end of the First Punic War saw the beginning of the Roman expansion beyond the Italian peninsula. [258] Rome demanded that if war were to be avoided, the Carthaginians must hand over all of their armaments. [26][27] According to the classicist Richard Miles Rome had an expansionary attitude after southern Italy came under its control, while Carthage had a proprietary approach to Sicily. The Carthaginian formation collapsed; Hannibal was one of the few to escape the field. [4][5] Polybius was an analytical historian and wherever possible interviewed participants, from both sides, in the events he wrote about. Prior to the conflict, Carthage had grown from a small port-of-call to the richest and most powerful city in the Mediterranean region before 260 BCE. [63][87] The Carthaginians were again beaten;[88] this was possibly the largest naval battle in history by the number of combatants involved. From which body of water did Rome get fresh water for drinking and agriculture? [132][133], By early 237BC, after numerous setbacks, the rebels were defeated and their cities brought back under Carthaginian rule. [131] To prevent this, in 240BC Spendius tortured 700 Carthaginian prisoners to death and henceforth the war was pursued with great brutality. His grandnephew became the first person to rule as emperor. Historians of Ancient Rome an Anthology of the Major Writings Third Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike, 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, An over-reliance on the brilliance of Hamilcar Barca. In response, Roman advisers were sent to train his soldiers= and he waged war against the Carthaginian ally Gala. In A.D. 80, Vespasians son Titus opened the Colosseumofficially known as read more, The Roman politician and general Mark Antony (8330 B.C. [170] A large Roman army was lured into combat by Hannibal at the battle of the Trebia, encircled and destroyed. |inhuman|"The pain became inhuman. He is remembered for expanding and reforming the Roman Republic. Rome also established itself as the naval powerhouse in the Mediterranean Sea.What was the long term economic effect of the Punic wars on Rome?Roman resources were depleted as a result of the loss of territory during the Punic Wars.What were the main effects of the Punic Wars?Punic Wars, also known as Carthaginian Wars, occurred between the Roman Republic and the Carthaginian (Punic) empire from 264 to 146 bce. Infantry were usually positioned in the centre of the battle line, with light infantry skirmishers to their front and cavalry on each flank. This sealed the fate of the Carthaginians in Iberia. Nevertheless, three years . All Rights Reserved. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Which branch of government in the Roman Republic was led by two consuls? We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team's carbon footprint. [77][78] The focus of the war shifted to the sea, where the Romans had little experience; on the few occasions they had previously felt the need for a naval presence they had usually relied on small squadrons provided by their Latin or Greek allies. Hannibal, a sworn enemy of Rome, received intelligence that Roman armies were moving against him and, in a bold gamble, marched his forces over the Alps and into northern Italy. [163] The Roman commanders captured Saguntum in 212BC and in 211BC hired 20,000 Celtiberian mercenaries to reinforce their army. It resulted in the destruction of Carthage. Two of the major Samnite tribes also joined the Carthaginian cause. The added weight in the prow compromised both the ship's manoeuvrability and its seaworthiness, and in rough sea conditions the corvus became useless; part way through the First Punic War the Romans ceased using it. At the same time, the Carthaginians, who felt no less severely the financial strain of the prolonged struggle, reduced their forces and made no attempt to deliver a counterattack. The First Punic War (264-241 BC) was the first of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage, the two main powers of the western Mediterranean in the early 3rd century BC. The Senate gained increased prestige greater wealth and more influence in Roman government. What did the Romans believe about the role of the gods in society? This ultimately led to the establishment of Roman Empire. [225], In 210BC Publius Cornelius Scipio,[note 14] arrived in Iberia with further Roman reinforcements. By 265 B.C., Carthage was the wealthiest and most advanced city in the region, as well as its leading naval power. Answer: A result of the first Punic War and the Romans was the decisive naval victory against the Carthaginians at the Aegate Islands. [40][41] The close order African infantry and the citizen-militia both fought in a tightly-packed formation known as a phalanx. Traditionally, when at war the Romans would raise two legions, each of 4,200 infantry[note 4] and 300 cavalry. They elected people to represent them in government. Best Answer. The three Punic Wars between Carthage and Rome took place over nearly a century, beginning in 264 B.C. (Which was largely reserved for inhabitants of the city of Carthage. Why did senators oppose the idea of Julius Caesar becoming the leader after Crassus died? The Punic wars would have ended early, Carthage would have colonized Italy and gone on to become the dominant superpower in the Mediterranean, significantly altering European history as we know it. [109][110] They launched a surprise attack on the Carthaginian fleet, but were defeated at the battle of Drepana; Carthage's greatest naval victory of the war. This erupted into full-scale mutiny under the leadership of Spendius and Matho; 70,000 Africans from Carthage's oppressed dependant territories flocked to join the mutineers, bringing supplies and finance. [126], The Mercenary, or Truceless, War began in 241BC as a dispute over the payment of wages owed to 20,000 foreign soldiers who had fought for Carthage on Sicily during the First Punic War. The general population of the Roman society increased, causing lots of "poor plebs" to be present. 10,000 talents was approximately 269,000kg (265 long tons) of silver. He shrewdly combined military read more, Located just east of the Roman Forum, the massive stone amphitheater known as the Colosseum was commissioned around A.D. 70-72 by Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty as a gift to the Roman people. Pompeii, a flourishing resort city south of ancient Rome, was nestled along the coast of Italy in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano. [43] In addition both Iberia and Gaul provided many experienced infantry and cavalry. Later on the 1203 Words; 5 Pages . The interaction of these conflicting policies caused the two powers to stumble into war more by accident than design. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. [2][8][11], The account of the Roman historian Livy is commonly used by modern historians where Polybius's account is not extant. That's the short answer, and I know I cheesed it a bit, but it's basically true. The First Punic War was the closest match, for numerous reasons, b. [42] On occasion some of the infantry would wear captured Roman armour, especially among the troops of the Carthaginian general Hannibal. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Livy relied heavily on Polybius, but wrote in a more structured way, with more details about Roman politics, as well as being openly pro-Roman. 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. [255][266] The Carthaginians continued to resist vigorously: they constructed warships and during the summer twice gave battle to the Roman fleet, losing both times. 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