THE PUNIC WARS

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THE PUNIC WARS
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• The Roman Republics first territorial interest
  outside of Italy was in Africa- Carthage.
• It controlled Sicily (rich in wheat- could
  provide Rome with grain)
• Posed a threat to the trade along the west of
  Italian Peninsula.

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First War (264 BCE- 241 BCE)

• Lasted 23 years
• Rome defeated Carthage after rebuilding their
  navy.
• Carthaginians agree to pay Rome 3300 talents of
  silver and surrender Sicily.

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Second War (218 BCE- 202 BCE)

• Far more serious threat to Rome.
• Hamilcar Barca (General in the first Punic War)
  had conquered parts of Spain.
• Hannibal, his son, pressed even farther on the
  Spanish coast. When Rome demanded that Hannibal
  surrender the city, he refused.

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• Hannibal invaded through the North.
• He organized a force of 40,000 infantry, 8,000
  cavalry, and 60 elephants to transport the
  military equipment through the mountain pass.
• He lost half of his infantry, ¼ of his cavalry,
  and 40 elephants
• Hannibal still had success defeating the Romans
  three times over the next year.

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• Before launching an attack on Rome, Hannibal
  marched south for food and suppliesthis gave the
  Romans time to recover from their losses.
• The Romans began to win other battles elsewhere.
  
• Fearing an attack on his own land, Hannibal
  decided to leave Italy in order to defend
  Carthage.

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• The Battle of Zama Rome defeated the
  Carthaginians, Hannibals only loss.
• Carthage asked for peace, and agreed to pay
  10,000 talents of silver to Rome.
• Hannibal fled into exile and commited suicide.

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Third War (149 BCE- 146 BCE)

• Carthage violated the peace treaty by rebuilding
  her army.
• Rome decided that the city must be destroyed.
• The Romans plundered, burned and ploughed the
  city under the ground, sowing the ground with
  salt so that nothing would grow.
• Any people they did not kill they sold into
  slavery.