+ Early Roman Conquest The Punic Wars

+ Periods of Roman History Roman Origins ( BCE) Earliest settlements on Palatine Hill 753 – Romulus & Remus founding myth Roman Republic ( BCE) Etruscan kings overthrown Republic: a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives The Punic Wars ( BCE) Roman Empire (31 BCE – 476 CE) Began when Octavian defeated Antony & Cleopatra Note: Rome/Romans does not refer to just the city, but the entire empire of this civilization and the people who inhabited the regions they conquered

+ Rome’s First Conquests While the Romans were developing their form of government, they also expanded along the Italian peninsula Often turned to military conquest than peaceful diplomacy Destroyed remaining Etruscan town of Veii (396 BCE)

+ The Invasion by the Gauls 390 BCE – Gauls captured city of Rome Heroic deed by wealthy Roman women – secured the funds for a negotiated ransom 290s BCE – Rome dominated the Italian peninsula as far South as Magna Graecia

+ The Roman Army Greek phalanx  Roman maniples men (maniple) – commanded by a centurion Allowed for power and versatility, could maneuvre independently 6000 men (legion) – had to hold its formation, main unit 600 men (cohort) – flexibility of the maniples, replaced maniples at times

+ Pyrrhus Invades Italy 280 BCE – Southern Greek city- states in Italy felt threatened by Rome Enlisted King of Epirus 20 war elephants & 2 successful battles Romans rebounded and pursued their conquests Controlled all of Italian peninsula except the Po Valley (to the North)

+ The Roman Federation Conquered communities Degrees of privilege Roman citizenship Protection of Roman law, some could vote, intermarriages with Romans allowed Liable to provide troops How do you control a large territory without having to demolish or transform the conqueror’s own institutions? This system expanded the manpower available to Rome

+ The Punic Wars Rome  unified Italian peninsula Carthage  controlled cities in northern Africa, parts of Spain, islands of Corsica and Sardinia, and much of Sicily Leading naval power

+ First Punic War ( BCE) Sicily – under siege from Carthage Romans sent a force to assist the town of Messana in Sicily Led to a battle for control of the whole island of Sicily Romans refused to accept defeat – they were victorious! Carthage abandoned Sicily and it became the first Roman province 238 BCE - Sardinia rebelled against Carthaginian control and Rome seized it and Corsica to form the second Roman province

+ Second Punic War ( BCE) Carthage tries to build an empire in southern Spain as compensation for its losses Saguntum – town in Spain, Rome promised to protect led to the outbreak of the most critical Punic war 219 BCE – Hannibal (Carthage) seized Saguntum Wanted to bring the war home to Rome and conquer it 218 BCE – He led his army across the Alps with 37 elephants 216 BCE – Victorious over the Romans at Cannae Allies remained faithful to Rome, and Hannibal didn’t have the manpower

+ Third Punic War ( BCE) Rome made an alliance with Numidia (west of Carthage) Numidia plundered the territory of Carthage to the point of armed resistance Marcus Cato persuades Rome to declare war 146 BCE – city captured, Roman province named Africa 133 BCE – Spain conquered by Rome (Carthage territory now destroyed)