1. B.C.

2. Carthaginian Empire- 3rd Century B.C.

3. 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.

4. * 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.

5. * 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

6. * 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.

7. 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”

8. 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!

9. 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-

10. * 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.

11. * 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).

13. * 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.

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

15. Preparing for
the battle.

16. Setting the
trap.

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

18. “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.

19. * 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.

20. Rome 2 - Carthage 0

21. The Destruction of Carthage
Round 3:
The Third Punic War
( B.C.)
The Destruction of Carthage

22. “I declare that Carthage
“Censeo Carthaginem
esse delendam.”
“I declare that Carthage
must be destroyed.”
Marcus Cato- “Cato the Elder,”: Roman Senator

23. * 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 and no further crops would ever grow.
* Of the 250,000 citizens of Carthage, 50,000
survived the massacre– only to be forced into
slavery.

24. Roman Republic was growing into an empire…
100 B.C.