1 Ch. 7 Sec. 2 Rome Expands Its Borders

2 Rome Fights Carthage By the middle 200s B.C., the Roman Republic controlled the Italian Peninsula By the middle 200s B.C., the Roman Republic controlled the Italian Peninsula Rome came into conflict w/ Carthage, a powerful city in North Africa Rome came into conflict w/ Carthage, a powerful city in North Africa Carthage was a great commercial power whose empire spanned the western Mediterranean Carthage was a great commercial power whose empire spanned the western Mediterranean

3 Carthage had colonies on Sicily, an island near the coast of Italy Carthage had colonies on Sicily, an island near the coast of Italy The two powers clashed over control of the region in a series of costly conflicts called the Punic Wars The two powers clashed over control of the region in a series of costly conflicts called the Punic Wars

4 The First Punic War The First Punic War between Carthage & Rome began in 264 B.C. The First Punic War between Carthage & Rome began in 264 B.C. Rome quickly built a navy, using a captured Carthaginian ship as a model Rome quickly built a navy, using a captured Carthaginian ship as a model

5 The Romans would ram their vessel into an enemy ship & let down a “boarding bridge” The Romans would ram their vessel into an enemy ship & let down a “boarding bridge” Soldiers stampeded across & took the enemy ship Soldiers stampeded across & took the enemy ship After 23 years of war, Carthage asked for peace After 23 years of war, Carthage asked for peace Carthage paid for damages & gave up Sicily Carthage paid for damages & gave up Sicily

6 Second Punic War The Second Punic War began 20 years later The Second Punic War began 20 years later Hannibal, a great Carthaginian general, assembled a huge army in Spain, including foot soldiers, horse soldiers, & elephants Hannibal, a great Carthaginian general, assembled a huge army in Spain, including foot soldiers, horse soldiers, & elephants

7 While marching across the Alps into Italy, many died Despite these losses, Hannibal won several victories, forcing the Romans to retreat Unequipped to attack cities, he spent years raiding the countryside Finally, Rome invaded Africa & threatened Carthage

8 Hannibal’s gov’t ordered him home to defend the city Hannibal’s gov’t ordered him home to defend the city In Africa the Roman general Scipio defeated Hannibal In Africa the Roman general Scipio defeated Hannibal Carthage again paid $ to Rome, gave up colonies in Spain, & gave up most of its navy Carthage again paid $ to Rome, gave up colonies in Spain, & gave up most of its navy

9 Third Punic War Although Carthage was no longer a threat, Romans still hated it Although Carthage was no longer a threat, Romans still hated it In 149 B.C. Rome attacked &, after a bitter siege, destroyed Carthage In 149 B.C. Rome attacked &, after a bitter siege, destroyed Carthage Rome also attacked & defeated Macedonia, which had been allied w/ Carthage Rome also attacked & defeated Macedonia, which had been allied w/ Carthage Rome became the supreme power in the Mediterranean Rome became the supreme power in the Mediterranean

10 The Problems of Expansion Expansion required the Roman gov’t to change, for example, Rome remained a republic, but the Senate gained control over the army & foreign policy The newly conquered areas, called provinces, were governed loosely

11 The people of each province became subjects of Rome, not citizens or allies The people of each province became subjects of Rome, not citizens or allies Each province was administered by a Roman governor Each province was administered by a Roman governor Some governors took bribes & cared little about the welfare of the people Some governors took bribes & cared little about the welfare of the people Tax collectors squeezed as much money as possible from the provinces Tax collectors squeezed as much money as possible from the provinces

12 There were also problems at home There were also problems at home Roman farmer-soldiers back from the Punic wars found their livestock killed & their homes & crops destroyed Roman farmer-soldiers back from the Punic wars found their livestock killed & their homes & crops destroyed Without $ to rebuild, many had to sell their farms & move to the city Without $ to rebuild, many had to sell their farms & move to the city Rome became dependent on its provinces for grain Rome became dependent on its provinces for grain

13 Farmers couldn’t find jobs in the cities & depended on the gov’t for food Farmers couldn’t find jobs in the cities & depended on the gov’t for food While this is happening, trade created a class of business people & landowners called equites, who had great wealth & influence While this is happening, trade created a class of business people & landowners called equites, who had great wealth & influence The gap between rich & poor, powerful & powerless, grew wider The gap between rich & poor, powerful & powerless, grew wider

14 Romans often enslaved conquered peoples & in 73 B.C. a slave named Spartacus began a slave revolt More than 70,000 slaves took part, but were crushed Spartacus died in battle & some 6,000 rebels were crucified