Punic Wars
Carthaginians
- Punic=Phoenician (in Latin)
- Phoenician=mod. Lebanon
- Phoenicians speak lang. very close to anc. Hebrew
- More interested in trade than agriculture
- Punics settled in w. Meditarranean from 800s on
- In 500s, Carthage assumes leadership of Punic trading communities in w. Mediterranean
- "Carthaginian" in broad sense=Punics in w. Med.
- Punic communities scattered along shores
- N. Africa
- Sardinia
- W. Sicily
- Spain
- Prolonged disputes with Greeks in Sicily
- First overseas opponents of Romans
- Romans disliked them
- Dislike caused by the wars?
- Treaties show trade relations b/w Rome and Carthage in early Republic
- Three Punic Wars
First Punic War
- 264-242
- Right after Roman subjugation of Italy complete
- Romans intervene in Messana
- Messana directly across straits from Italy in Sicily
- Hiero, Grk. tyrant of Syracuse quickly goes over to Romans
- Syracuse main Grk. town in Sicily
- Romans first try to oust Carthaginians from Sicily
- Hard slogging, much besieging
- Romans use corvus to overcome Carthag. naval superiority
- Romans invade n. Africa in 256
- Attempt to strike at heart of Carthaginian territory
- Good idea, bad execution
- Roman army forced to capitulate in 255
- Regulus argues against exchange of prisoners
- Argues Romans can absorb losses, Carthaginians can't
- Gales in late 250s, 249 destroy several Roman fleets
- Massive losses
- Losses made good, but each time takes longer
- Lull in 240s
Both sides exhausted
- Romans attack w. Sicily with new fleet in 242
- Carthaginians had put their fleet in "moth balls"
- Raised a new fleet, not good enough
- Carthginians sue for peace
- Forced to abandon Sicily
- Large indemnity to be paid over ten years
Aftermath of First Punic War
- Revolt of Carthaginian mercenary army
- Without major manpower resources, Carthags. employed foreign mercenaries
- Couldn't pay them at end of war
- Roman bad faith
- Force Carthags. to hand over Sardinia, pay more money
- Carthaginians embittered
- Expand into interior of Spain to acquire manpower from native subjects
- Romans set up first overseas provinces
- Two praetorships created to provide governors for Sicily, Sardinia (227)
- Locals used to paying tribute to overlords
- Local forces not incorporated into Roman army, as was done in conquest of Italy
Second Punic War
- Hannibal
- One of greatest generals of antiquity
- Belonged to one of leading families of Carthaginian oligarchy
- Acted as long-term governor in Spain
- Decides to provoke war with Rome
- Realizes Roman superiority in manpower
- Takes war to the Roman territory
- Hopes to induce rebellion among Roman allies
- Lays siege to town of Saguntum, Roman ally in Spain
- Hannibal's Campaign in Italy
- Takes army to Italy
Drags poor elephants over Alps
- Major but not decisive victories over Romans in 218, 217
- Fabian tactics
- Recognition of Hannibal's superior generalship
- Refusal to confront him directly
- Shadowing Hannibal to keep him from causing too much trouble
- Cannae
- Fabian tactics abandoned
- Massive Roman defeat at Cannae, 216
- Hannibal can't take Rome
- Limited revolts among s. Italian allies
- Most allies stay loyal, esp. in central Italy
- Return to Fabian tactics
- Unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem
- Hannibal never confronted again in Italy
- Spends next decade trashing s. Italy
- Never receives substantial reinforcements
- Romans gradually subdue revolts in Italy, Sicily
Back to CLASS 281 Reading Schedule