War with Carthage By: Mitchell Mazza
Introduction Carthage Kart-hadast “New Town” Began founding colonies Italy to African coast Modern day Tunis Kart-hadast “New Town” Began founding colonies northern Africa, Sardinia, Corsica, parts of Sicily, and Spain Controlled west Mediterranean world
A Great Sea Power Positioned high Surrounded by walls Richest Mediterranean city tribute and tariffs Traded metals gold, silver, tin Venture the Atlantic Powerful fleet and army mercenaries
Fighting Breaks Out Carthage controlled half of Sicily after the Roman conquest of Italy Rome didn’t want to lose Sicily to Carthage Why? Rome helped Messina against Carthage Began the Punic Wars
Map of Carthage and Rome (Rome-red Carthage-purple)
Punic Wars Rome vs. Carthage Punic- Latin word for “Phoenician” 3 parts 60 years long Punic- Latin word for “Phoenician” Army was of little use to Rome Came up with a plan...
Roman Ships Constructed a fleet of 140 ships 120 feet long and 14 feet wide Five banks of oar and a bronze battering ram Carried 300 sailors When not in combat- 40 marines When in battle- 120 marines
Roman Ships Still wasn’t enough Needed an advantage Came up with an invention What is it?
Corvus Corvus- Latin for raven Hinged gangplanks with a sharp iron spike at the end Hurdled javelins at the other ship Dropped the corvus on the other ship Warriors went across the corvus and fought the Carthaginians
Punic Wars
The First Punic War Go ROME! First Punic War began in 264 B.C.E. Lasted 23 years First Roman War outside of Italy In the end Rome wins Last sea battle was conventional Roman adaptability Won land battles too Marked the emergence of a Roman navy
Provinces A Peace settlement was made Sicily became a Roman province Carthage was to vacate Sicily and pay a fund Sicily became a Roman province Eventually gained Sardinia and Corsica Provinces had to pay tribute Usually a tenth of their wheat harvest Governed by a high ranking politician
Enter Hannibal Carthage looked for ways to rebuild Hamilcar Barca was a Carthaginian general led an army to Spain Hoped to conquer Spain Hannibal was Hamilcar’s eldest son He was a fearless fighter Master of ambush tactics and blitz attacks
Hannibal’s route to Rome
Enter Hannibal At the age of nine, he took a pledge that he would defeat the Romans In 219 B.C.E., Hannibal broke the peace treaty Captured the Roman trading port in Spain call Saguntum
Attack Route Hannibal knew he couldn’t travel by sea Decided to go overland This would be unexpected Hannibal assumed that other cities would want to fight Rome Gauls
Attack Route Set out in 218 B.C.E. with 60,000 men, 9,000 horses, and 37 war elephants Created rafts to flow down the Rhone river Elephants jumped off the boats and walked Rafts were also built for soldiers
Alps The snow-capped Alps were the hardest part of the trek People continuously lost their footing and fell and then died There were only 23,000 of the 60,000 men left Finally, they finished the march in 5 months
Video Hannibal crosses the Alps: www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/hannibal/videos/hannibal-crosses-the-alps