264-146 B.C.

Carthaginian Empire- 3rd Century B.C.

Round 1: The First Punic War 264-241 B.C. In 264 B.C., Carthage had occupied the town of Messina. This bothered Rome because the town was in the northeast corner of Sicily- very close to Roman territory. Although the Romans won a few battles, they realized that victory could only be achieved by controlling all of Sicily.

* In order to control Sicily, Rome would have to win battles at sea- though Rome had no working navy. * The Romans quickly built a fleet of ships equipped with bridges to aid in defeating the Carthaginians. These ships allowed soldiers to fight at sea.

How did they do that? ……by capturing a Carthaginian quinquereme and then they used it to copy and construct 140 ships of their own in 60 days. Then they added a corvus: wooden gangplank (like a ladder) with a spike on it. They converted naval warfare into mini-land battles. Something Rome was very good at Won First Punic War as a result After four years of fighting, the Romans decided the only way to drive the Carthaginians out of Sicily was to build their own fleet of ships. In 264 B.C.E. the Romans captured a Carthaginain quinquereme in battle. Roman engineers carefully studied the design, and then used what they had learned to construct 140 ships in the astonishingly short time of 60 days. The Romans also added a new feature to the ships they built, called a corvus (pronounced KOR-vuss) - a wooden gangway with a spike on the end. The corvus stood in an upright position until the Roman ship came next to the enemy ship. Then, the plank was lowered onto the other ship, the spike secured it, and well-trained Roman soldiers rushed across the gangway onto the enemy ship to slaughter the Carthaginian sailors. After building their warships, the Romans enjoyed several victories. Soon, thereafter, however, they began to suffer horrendous reversals. First, they lost almost 30,000 men in an attempt to invade North Africa. Next, their fleets were caught in several severe storms. The corvuses made the ships top heavy, and they capsized in heavy seas. Roman casualties totaled more than 700 lost ships and 200,000 dead sailors. In addition, the Carthaginians appointed an extremely able commander, Hamilcar Barca, to lead their troops. Hamilcar defeated a number of Roman fleets and conducted raid along the Roman and Sicilian coasts. These victories, which were often the result of his ability to quickly outflank his enemy, earned Hamilcar the nickname "Man of Lightening." By 245 B.C.E., after 20 years of fighting, Rome's treasury was empty and its people were exhausted. Nevertheless, Roman citizens donated their private wealth to build one final fleet of 200 ships that wisely did not contain the corvus. The strategy paid off, and in a final naval battle off the Sicilian coast, the Roman navy sank 50 Carthaginian ships and captured 70 others. Carthage could no longer supply her troops in Sicily and sued for peace. According to Polybius, the initial terms for peace presented to Carthage included the following: "The Carthaginians [are] to evacuate the whole of Sicily...[and] to give up to the Romans all prisoners without ransom. The Carthaginians [are] to pay the Romans by installments in twenty years 2,200 talents." This was an enormous sum of money in Roman currency. Later, vengeful members of the Roman Senate increased the fine to 3,200 talents and reduced the payment period to 10 years. In addition, they stipulated that Carthaginians quinqueremes were forbidden to sail in Roman waters. The Carthaginians were in no position to challenge these changes and accepted the treaty. Thus, the First Punic War came to an end in 241 B.C.E.

* Rome managed to gain supremacy of the seas. * The Carthaginian leader, Hamilcar Barca, was cornered in Sicily and surrendered in 241 B.C. Hamilcar Barca, Hannibal’s father. Rome 1 - Carthage 0

* Hamilcar regrouped his forces and moved into Rome after the First Punic War. * Hamilcar regrouped his forces and moved into Spain. With him, he took his son Hannibal.

Hannibal Barca * Hannibal was just a young boy when he was with his father in Sicily during the First Punic War. * At an early age, Hannibal was made to swear eternal hostility toward Rome. “I swear that so soon as age will permit… I will use fire and steel to arrest the destiny of Rome”

Round 2: ROME DECLARES WAR! Until his death in 183 B.C., Hannibal’s spent his life in war against the Romans. In 221 B.C., at the age of 26, he became commander-in-chief of Carthage’s army. Hannibal wanted revenge for his father’s defeat and attacked cities that were allies of the Romans. Round 2: ROME DECLARES WAR!

The Second Punic War (218-201 B.C.) Hannibal’s objective was clear- the utter destruction of Roman power. The problem was how to get to Italy from Spain- the Romans had complete naval supremacy. He did what the Romans never expected he would do-

* Hannibal invaded Rome through the Pyrenees Mountains, across southern Gaul (France), and over the Alps Mountains. One of the most ambitious invasion plans in history.

* Hannibal left Iberia in 218 B.C. with about 35,000 soldiers, including ~40 elephants. * In the Alps, he and his men suffered greatly from from the winter conditions and hostile tribes. * By the time they reached northern Italy, almost all of the elephants had died and his army had been reduced to 20,000 men and 6,000 cavalry. * This number was quickly raised to ~40,000 with the addition of Gauls (who were enemies of Rome).

* Hannibal marched his men around the Italian peninsula for 16 years- and never lost a battle. * During this time he annihilated much larger Roman armies using superior tactics: Trebia River, 218 B.C. – Of 40,000 Roman soldiers, only 10,000 returned to Rome. Lake Tresimene, 217 B.C.- 25,000 Romans killed. Battle of Cannae, 216 B.C.- His greatest victory.

Battle of Cannae 216 B.C. Typical Roman formation- Victory through sheer strength and training.

Preparing for the battle.

Setting the trap.

Double Envelopment: Closing the circle. 80,000 legionnaires started the fight. 46,000 killed 22,000 captured 6,000 Carthaginians died

“Hannibal, you understand how to win; but how to use your victory, you understand not.” * After his victory at Cannae, Hannibal would not march on Rome.

* After this last disastrous defeat, the Romans would not commit to another major fight. * A Roman general named Publius Cornelius Scipio invaded Spain- cutting Hannibal’s supply lines. * After conquering Spain, he invaded Carthage itself- forcing Hannibal to return home. * Hannibal was finally defeated at the Battle of Zama in 202 B.C.

Rome 2 - Carthage 0

The Destruction of Carthage Round 3: The Third Punic War (149-146 B.C.) The Destruction of Carthage * Carthage was basically pushed into fighting again.

“I declare that Carthage “Censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.” “I declare that Carthage must be destroyed.” Marcus Cato- “Cato the Elder”

* A Roman army blockaded and besieged Carthage. * Carthage withstood the siege for three years before yielding to the might of Rome. * Romans looted and burned the city down to its foundations and sowed salt into the soil to make it infertile. * Of the 250,000 citizens of Carthage, only 50,000 survived the massacre and they were later forced into slavery.

Roman Republic 100 B.C.