PUNIC WARS
The Punic Wars were a series of three wars that took place over the course of almost 100 years between Carthage and Rome. Despite Rome and Carthage having largely friendly relations with many trade treaties and such like, in 246 B.C. Carthage was the wealthiest and most advanced cities in the region and so Rome was keen to take control over it. However such control was not easy to come by and it took many years. The Punic Wars involved a number of battles between Rome and other cities, and these wars started in 264 B.C, and ended in 146 B.C. when Carthage was captured and destroyed.
In 264 B.C. the First Punic War broke out when Rome, which was an extremely dominant power across Italy, interfered in an argument that was taking place on Sicily. At the time Sicily was controlled by Carthage. Carthage was located in northern Africa and was a powerful city-state, and one of the leading maritime powers. In order to battle with Carthage, Rome built up its fleet over the course of 20 years, and become extremely powerful. By the time the First Punic War ended in 241 B.C., Rome had taken control over the islands of Sicily and Corsica and in doing so; Rome grew in terms of naval power. |
After the First Punic War, Carthage built up power in Spain. The area was ruled by powerful men, and when Hannibal took command over the Carthaginian parts of Spain he had to swear a blood oath against Rome. Hannibal declared war on Rome when he marched into Roman territory with his troops. This initial invasion resulted in disaster for Rome, and with Hannibal as leader there were a number of other great victories. However Rome rebounded and the Second Punic War occurred when Hannibal, who was a Carthaginian general, invaded Italy and was defeated by Rome. This defeat occurred in 202 B.C. and as a result of the defeat; Rome took control over most of the western Mediterranean and large areas of Spain.
The Third Punic War broke out in 149 B.C. This war was extremely controversial and was started because some members of the Roman Senate thought that Carthage was a threat to Roman supremacy, despite being severely weakened by the previous two Punic Wars. In 149 B.C. Carthage broke its treaty with Rome and declared war on a neighboring state. As a result of this, Rome sent troops to Africa and that is how the Third Punic War began. Although Carthage managed to hold Roman sieges off for almost two years, eventually Carthage broke down with a culmination of seven days of massive bloodshed where thousands of Carthaginian soldiers died. As a result of this Third Punic War the Romans captured and destroyed Carthage which had been a powerful city for almost 700 years. This event resulted in Africa becoming yet another part of the Roman Empire, and the Carthaginian citizens that remained were sold into slavery.
The Third Punic War broke out in 149 B.C. This war was extremely controversial and was started because some members of the Roman Senate thought that Carthage was a threat to Roman supremacy, despite being severely weakened by the previous two Punic Wars. In 149 B.C. Carthage broke its treaty with Rome and declared war on a neighboring state. As a result of this, Rome sent troops to Africa and that is how the Third Punic War began. Although Carthage managed to hold Roman sieges off for almost two years, eventually Carthage broke down with a culmination of seven days of massive bloodshed where thousands of Carthaginian soldiers died. As a result of this Third Punic War the Romans captured and destroyed Carthage which had been a powerful city for almost 700 years. This event resulted in Africa becoming yet another part of the Roman Empire, and the Carthaginian citizens that remained were sold into slavery.