Carthaginian Wars Essay, Research Paper

The Punic Wars was a series of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage for a period of 118 old ages. Rome, one of the sides of these wars, was a huge imperium whose influence covered much of the known universe at the clip. Carthage, the other participant in the Punic Wars, was a metropolis province on the North Coast of Africa which had partial control over Sicily before wars and whose location was ideal for trading land in the Mediterranean.

The first war ( 264-241 BC ) started because a struggle between two different metropolis provinces on the island of Sicily, Messana and Syracuse, had been traveling on and finally both Rome and Carthage stepped in. During their intercession, Carthage began to command more and more of the island of Sicily. So because of Carthage? s spread outing influence of Sicily, many Romans felt that Carthage? s authorization in Sicily threatened them and their trading. Romans attacked and rapidly gained Sicily back in their control. However, because of Rome? s deficiency of a naval forces they could non force Carthage back any farther. Rome shortly built a naval forces. After C. Duilius won the first Roman sea conflict of the Punic Wars, Rome dominated the sea winning all but one sea conflict for the remainder of the First Punic War. With Rome? s authorization on land and at sea, Carthage surrendered after the Roman triumph at the Aegates Islands in 241 BC.

The peace lasted for 23 old ages before Carthage? s resentfulness in losing the first war brought them into a 2nd. The

centerstone of the Second Punic War was one adult male, Hannibal, and his reign on? one of the great decisive wars of history. ? 1 Hannibal in 218 BC crosses the Alps into the Po Valley with an elephant luggage train. He got the assistance of the Guals, a people who were conquered by the Romans. Hannibal rolled through northern Italy winning every conflict along the manner. Meanwhile the Romans had control of the Mediterranean Sea and stopped supports from Spain.

Scipio, a Roman general, drove the Punic forces back to Spain and so went to North Africa. Hannibal returned to Africa to confront Scipio where he was beaten by Scipio at Zama in 202 BC. After this annihilating loss, the Carthaginians surrendered, lost of import islands, and had to pay big amounts of money to Rome. Rome besides reduced the Carthage navy to ten ships. The Second Punic War was over in 201 BC.

In the 3rd and concluding war Rome showed its despise and hatred for Carthage. Rome came up with a program to get down a 3rd war where they could destruct Carthage. Rome had Misnissa, male monarch of Numidia, entice Carthage into assailing Numidia. Carthage fell into the trap assailing Misnissa in 149 BC. War was declared and Rome rapidly defeated Carthage, though they did contend Rome off for three old ages. Any staying Carthaginians were made slaves and Rome burned the metropolis. Therefore, with that triumph three old ages after the last war began, and one hundred and 18 old ages after the first began, Carthage? s appreciation in the? known universe? was over for good.