Rome Day 3 Punic Wars

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Vocabulary

1. Punic Wars

2. Hannibal

3. Scipio

4. Spartacus

5. How did Rome gain control over the Mediterranean?

6. What changes occurred in the Roman Republic as a result of Roman expansion?

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The Punic Wars

"Over the space of just under 120 years there were three great wars between two powers (the Romans and the Carthaginians) were trying to control the seas and the lands of the Italian peninsula, Sicily, Northern Africa and the southern lands of Spain.

The causes of the Punic Wars boiled down to the Carthaginian Empire and the Roman Republic both wanting to expand their lands and build on the empires they had already started.

At the outbreak of the First Punic War the Carthaginian Empire was the super power of the western side of the Mediterranean and as such many would have seen Carthage as the winner in the battle between the two powers.

The First Punic War

· This war started as the Romans moved over the sea and marched on Sicily to gain lands there. The war ran between 264 BC and 241 BC.

· The Romans had built many ships and armed them with a new invention , a bridge that was thrown across ships for legion soldiers to march across and do battle. This new invention was a huge success and the Roman Navy, while suffering some losses, was able to beat the Carthage Navy overall.

· The outcome of the First Punic War was a resounding victory to Rome and the Carthage leadership signing a peace treaty advising as such.

The Second Punic War

• The Second Punic War happened between 218 BC and 201 BC. Hannibal, the great general from Carthage, took an army of men and elephants through the Alps and surprised the Romans in Northern Italy where he won many great battles

• The Romans cut off supplies to make life hard for Hannibal and then counter attacked by crossing over to Africa and attacking Carthage. This move was a great one as it had Hannibal rushing back to defend his homeland before being demolished by the Romans at the Battle of Zama on October 19th 202 BC.

• Again Rome gains victory in the war and now controls much of the Western Mediterranean meaning the Carthage Empire losses a lot of control.

The Third Punic War

· The Third Punic War happened between 149 BC and 146 BC.

· The Romans crossed the seas to North Africa and besieged the Phoenician city of Carthage (currently in Tunis). The Carthage Empire surrendered after only a few years

and handed up weapons and men as prisoners, the Romans wanted to destroy Carthage.

· Scipio Aemilianus organized the Roman troops they broke through the Carthage city walls.. Once the Romans had gained control they simply destroyed the city totally

before selling off the 50,000 or so survivors as slaves.

· The Romans won the third and final Punic War leaving the Carthaginian’s to sign a treaty giving Rome control and leaving Carthage with no military at all."

Link to "summary of the Punic Wars"

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As Rome became the supreme power in the Mediterranean. Expansion required the Roman government to change. It remained a republic, but the Senate gained control over the army and foreign policy. The newly conquered areas, called provinces, were governed loosely. The people of each province became subjects of Rome, not citizens or allies. Each province was administered by a Roman governor. Some governors took bribes and cared little about the welfare of the people. Tax collectors squeezed as much money as possible from the provinces. There were also problems at home. Roman farmer-soldiers back from the Punic

Wars found their livestock killed and their homes, olive groves, and vineyards destroyed. Without money to rebuild, many had to sell out. Rome became dependent on its provinces for grain. The former farmers moved to the cities. Some could not find work and depended on the government for food. Meanwhile, trade created a class of business people. They had great wealth and influence. The gap between rich and poor, powerful and powerless, grew wider. Romans often enslaved conquered peoples. Although some were treated well, many were not. In 73 B.C. a slave named Spartacus began a slave revolt. More than 70,000

slaves took part. The Roman army crushed the uprising. Spartacus died in battle. Some 6,000 rebels were crucified—nailed or tied to crosses until they died.

The Romans and Ethnocentrism - The Romans looked upon non Romans as less than. Ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s culture is superior to all others. The Roman citizens looked down upon non citizens from other lands.

Vocab

Punic Wars: Three costly conflicts between Rome and Carthage over control of the Mediterranean region

Hannibal: Great general of Carthage who marched across the Alps into Italy during the Second Punic War

Scipio: Roman general who defeated Hannibal in Africa during the Second Punic War equites: Roman class of business people and landowners

who had great wealth and political influence

Spartacus: Roman slave who led a slave revolt in 73 B.C.

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Exit Slip

1. What were the Punic Wars?

2. What was the effect of expansion on the Roman Republic?