Punic Wars Flashcards
Which situation sparked the first Punic war?
When the mammertimes asked for help from Rome and Carthage in Sicily, they both ended up in fight with each other
How did Rome win the first Punic war?
Determination and Luck
Luck: Rome copied Carthage’s ships– added a courvus (bridge with spike that attached to the opponents ship and allowed them to cross over for hand-to-hand combat)
Determination: they had built a 3rd fleet of ships and in the battle the first 2 got destroyed but they kept on trying and won with the 3rd fleet
Why were Rome and Carthage natural rivals?
They were competing to see who would control the West Mediterranean
They helped each other before so they were “too close for comfort”
What happened to Carthage at the end of the third Punic War?
Scipio Africanus Minor set up a blockade and starved Carthage. Rome burned the city, plowed salt into the ground, and sold survivors into slavery. Scipio Africanus minor didn’t believe Carthage should be destroyed .
What did Rome get at the end of the first Punic war?
Rome gets 200,000 lbs of silver = 47,200,000 dollars
Still doesn’t cover costs of war
What area of the world did Carthage focus on after the first Punic war?
Hamilcar Barca (general from Carthage) goes to Spain to spread Carthaginian power
Why Spain?
-very rich in agriculture wealth
-Hamilcar’s supporters were there
What situation sparked the second Punic war?
Rome demands Carthage to surrender Saguntum (city in Spain)
Hannibal refuses and attacks Saguntum instead
War = declared 💩
What route did Hannibal take to attack Italy?
Hannibal and the Carthaginians take the route through the Alps
One half of his army died (including war elephants)
How large was Hannibal’s force before and after he crossed into Italy?
Before 50,000 men 37 war elephants 6,000 horses + horsemen They lost about half of the force
Why and how did Hannibal win the battle of the Trebia river?
Romans had to force March to meet Hannibal (very tired- no sleep, exhausted, and cold)
Carthaginians are well rested and they had a good breakfast
Romans had to cross river(very wet)
Hannibal hid men in the bushes on the side of the river
Romans meet army on the other side
people in bushes came out
Romans = very suprised by being surrounded by army in front of them and people hiding in bushes behind them
2/3 of Romans killed
Hannibal gave freedom to non-romans in roman army to tell their cities to join Hannibal
What caused the third punic war?
People in Rome hate Carthage and Cato the Censor leads the anti carthage party. He ends every speech with “Carthago delenda est!” (Carthage must be destroyed). Carthage couldn’t fight anyone but finally had to and Rome pounced.
What happened to hannibal after the second punic war?
After the second punic war Hannibal became a political leader and helped the poor. This makes the Carthaginian oligarchs and Romans mad. They team up and capture Hannibal. Hannibal kills himself with poison.
Overall why wasn’t Hannibal able to win the second punic war?
First he was running out of money and supplies. He was also running out of allies. It seemed like he was giving up.
What name was Scipio given after the battle of Zama?
Scipio Jr. was given the name Africanus Major
Where is Zama? Who won the battle of Zama? Why?
Zama is in Africa. Scipio Jr. Won by using Hannibals tactics
