The Punic Wars

Rome vs. CarthageWorld History I

Heritage High SchoolMr. Irwin

Essential Question:Why was Rome

able to conquer Carthage and then go on to extend its

influence across the entire

Mediterranean basin and much of Western Europe?

Roman Expansion in the Mediterranean Sea

• The Roman Army was different than other armies because it was separated into small sections called legions. Legions could move around easily. Soldiers in the Roman Army were called legionaires. They built roads for soldiers and trade, which unified the Roman people.

Roman Expansion (con’t.)

• Farmers and soldiers received conquered lands.

• Spread Roman culture and Latin language.

Roman Army• One of best armies of all time

– Victorious against many formidable opponents• Army was a both a duty & distinguishing mark of Roman citizenship • Army changed drastically over time

– Originally only citizens that could afford equipment– Fought in phalanx during monarchy

• Republican Legions - units– Equites (cavalry) – Velites (light infantry)– Heavy infantry– Auxilia (auxiliary troops and specialist)

• Brutal discipline• Reforms

– End of the 2nd century BCE– Created professional standing armies– Employed poorer classes– Loyalty of the soldiers in the hands of their general

Factors in Legion’s Success• Military organization was more flexible than those of many

opponents • Roman discipline, organization & systemization sustained

combat effectiveness over a longer period • Roman military and civic culture gave the military consistent

motivation and cohesion • Romans were more persistent and more willing to absorb and

replace losses over time than their opponents • Roman Engineering skills were second to none

– Offensive and defensive siege warfare– Construction and investiture of fortifications

• Roman military equipment – Soldiers equipped with heavy shields, helmets and highly

effective body armor

The Punic Wars (Rome vs. Carthage)• Carthage was a city-state on

the northern coast of Africa. Carthage was a huge trading empire.

• Rome was gaining power in the Mediterranean. Carthage was also gaining power in the Mediterranean. Rome did not want Carthage to control trade. Rome fought three wars with Carthage called the Punic Wars.

The 1st Punic War (264-241 B.C.E.)

• Carthage was seeking to expand into Sicily where the Romans were already dominant

• Both fought for control of the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding land.

• Carthage had a strong navy, while Roman had a strong army – (doesn’t this sound familiar? What other war have

we talked about where the rivals also had these differences?)

• Outcome? Rome built a strong navy.

The 2nd Punic War (218-201 B.C.E)Hannibal from

Carthage…• Wanted to defeat Rome for the death of his father

• Fought on Roman land, but…– (he crossed over the

Alps using war elephants)

• Was too weak to take over Rome

The 2nd Punic War (con’t.)

• Tide turned Rome’s favor when brilliant general, Publius Cornelius Scipio when he invaded North Africa.

• This forced Hannibal to come back and defend Carthage

• Outcome? Hannibal was defeated and surrendered Spain to Rome.

The 3rd Punic War (146-149 B.C.E.)The Romans…• Burned Carthage to the ground, and razed the

city over• Plowed salt into Carthage’s farms so that they

would not grow crops anymore• Massacred Carthaginian people or sold them into

slavery.• Sent message to others: DON’ T MESS WITH

ROME.• Outcome? Carthage became a Roman

province.

After the Punic Wars…• Rome was able , over the next 100 years, to

dominate the Mediterranean basin, leading to much cultural diffusion of Roman culture.

• Roman culture will spread around the Mediterranean Basin (Africa, Asia, Europe, including the Hellenistic world of Eastern Mediterranean) and Western Europe (Gaul, Spain, the British Isles – present day England and Ireland)

Effects of Expansion• After the Punic Wars, Roman territory

extended from Spain to Greece– Conquerors brought back wealth, slaves

• Bought large estates

• Many small farmers couldn’t compete– Lost their farms

– Poverty and unemployment increased

• Gap increased between rich and poor– Anger and tension grew between classes

Review Questions:•Why was Rome able to

conquer Carthage?•How did Rome go on to extend its influence across the entire Mediterranean basin and much of Western Europe?

Activity – Punic Wars Magazine Cover• Directions: Using the information on the Punic

Wars from your notes and text, design a magazine cover featuring the Punic Wars. Your cover must have a title, at least one picture, 5 subtitles, and a date. In addition, you must type up an explanation of your subtitles informing me as their correlation with the Punic Wars. I encourage you to use the computer, but you can also draw the cover. You must also include color. Attach the assignment sheet to your magazine cover.

• This assignment is worth 50 POINTS.

Points1. Creative magazine title and date – 5

pts.2. Cover picture – 5 pts.3. Color, creativity, and effort – 5 pts.4. 5 subtitles – 15 pts.5. Explanation of sub-titles – 20 pts.

Total Points – 50 pts.

Activity – Punic Wars Magazine• Directions: Using the information on the Punic Wars from

your notes and text, create a magazine featuring events from the Punic Wars. Your cover must have a title, at least one picture, 5 subtitles, and a date. Your magazine must also have a table of contents. The body of your magazine should consist of at least 5 articles that relate to your subtitles. These articles should demonstrate your understanding of the Punic Wars and the impact the wars had on Roman expansion. I strongly encourage you to use the computer, but you may also draw the cover. Your magazine should be colorful and visually appealing. Attach the assignment sheet as the last page of your magazine.

• This assignment is worth 100 POINTS.

Points1. Creative magazine title and date – 5 pts.2. Cover Picture – 5 pts.3. Table of Contents – 5 pts.4. Color, creativity, and effort – 10 pts.5. 5 subtitles – 25 pts.6. Articles – 50 points (10 pts. Each)

Total Points - 100

Examples…• Look at various magazines such as Rolling Stone, Teen People, Sports

Illustrated, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Time, Newsweek, etc. for ideas on titles and sub-titles.

• Here are some examples from the latest Vanity Fair magazine (issue – April ’09)– How Iceland went PFFFT! Could it happen here?– The Hedge Fund Time Bomb– Is it Time to Rethink the American Dream?– Exclusive! Mark Seal: Bernie Madoff’s Secrets– Brother, Can you spare a laugh? Featuring Jonah Hill, Seth

Rogan, Jason Segel, and Paul Rudd with Amy Poehler, Anna Faris, Bill Hader, and More!

– Plus! Pirates of the 21st Century! Anatomy of a High Seas Hijacking

Example of Magazine Cover