1. The Punic Wars
Who fought in the Punic Wars? What were the cause, key events, and results of these wars?

2. The Punic Wars: A brief overview
The Punic Wars were fought between Rome and Carthage
There were “three” wars that spanned over 100 years
The first battle occurred in 264 BCE and fighting ended in 146 BCE with Rome's destruction of Carthage

3. Map of Carthage and Roman Territories at the start of the Punic Wars

4. The Punic Wars
Rome
Carthage

5. The Punic Wars Gaul Corsica Rome Spain Sardinia Carthage Sicily
Med. Sea

6. The Cause of the Punic Wars
By the 3rd Century BCE, Rome had become a dominant power along the Italian Peninsula
Carthage was a powerful city-state in northern Africa who had developed a vast maritime empire
They dominated trade along the Mediterranean Sea

7. The Cause of the Punic Wars
Rome sought to expand their influence over the Mediterranean Sea, the main obstacle standing in their way—the Carthaginians
Rome and Carthage both wanted to control the Med. Sea, thus this war was fought over this fierce competition for trade and power
The First Punic War would officially begin in 264 BCE, when Rome interfered in a dispute on the Carthaginian controlled island of Sicily

8. The First Punic War (264-241 BCE)
The First Punic War was fought partly on land in Sicily, but was predominately a naval war
The Roman Legion (Army) was superior to the Carthaginians, but Carthage held a naval advantage
In response Rome quickly invested in expanding their navy to engage the land-retreating Carthaginians
Rome dominated the First War and as a result Carthage signed a treaty which granted Rome control of the islands of Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily
The result of this war was that Rome was now the most powerful civilization along the Mediterranean

9. Rome After the 1st Punic War

10. The Second Punic War (218-201 BCE)
After the defeat of the First Punic War, the Carthaginians established a new military base in Spain
In 221 BCE, Hannibal Barca became the military leader of Carthage
Hannibal had taken a blood-oath against Rome as a young boy
In 219 BCE, Hannibal marched his army into Saguntum (a Roman Territory)
This was seen as an act of war, thus the 2nd Punic War began

11. The Second Punic War Hannibal sought to invade the Italian Peninsula
He wanted to surprise the Roman’s by crossing the Alps and launching a northern invasion
On his way to invading the city of Rome, Hannibal delivered a series of blows to the Roman Legion
In fact, Hannibal never lost a battle en route to Rome
Hannibal marched south to Rome with more than 100,000 soldiers, but perhaps must intimidating of all—soldiers mounted on freakin Elephants!

12. The Second Punic War
Hannibal fought his way to just outside the city of Rome
Hannibal waited for reinforcements as opposed to invading the city
While Hannibal waited Rome led a counter-attack to Spain and Northern Africa
Although Hannibal had won every major battle his hesitation ultimately lost the war

13. The Second Punic War
Rome’s victory over Carthage in 2nd Punic War ended the Carthaginian Empire—the only territory Carthage retained was the city itself
Rome now had control of Spain and virtually all of the western Mediterranean
Carthage also had to pay a hefty amount of silver to Rome—as part of the treaty that ended the war

14. Rome After the 2nd Punic War

15. The 3rd Punic War ( BCE)
The Roman Senate had convinced the people of Rome that Carthage was still a threat to their control of the Med. Sea
Rome launched a siege attack on Carthage that lasted over 2 years
Once Rome gained their way into the city they destroyed house after house and slaughtered the majority of those in Carthage
Of the 50,000 Carthaginians who survived—each and everyone was sold into slavery

16. Rome at the End of the Punic Wars

17. Results of the Punic Wars: Summary
Rome destroyed Carthage—their main economic and political competitor
Rome expanded trade and wealth
Rome was the most dominated civilization along the Mediterranean Sea
Roman culture spread throughout the Mediterranean Basin (N. Africa, Central Asia, Central Europe and Western Europe—Gaul and the British Isles)

18. Video Link and Questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-7RwmL4Cjg
Explain the bizarre sacrificial ritual of the Carthaginians. Who was sacrificed? Why were they sacrificed? And how was this ritual performed?
Why did the Romans claim to hate the Carthaginians? According to the narrator, what was the true reason behind Rome’s conflict with Carthage?
What military innovation allowed the Roman’s to board enemy naval vessels and engage in hand-to-hand combat?
What were the costs of Hannibal’s plan to launch a northern invasion on Rome by crossing the Alps?