Can Rome 's action towards Carthage be described as defensive imperialism?
Rome 's action towards Carthage throughout the Punic Wars cannot be considered defensive imperialism, due to the strong military culture, expansionist aims and profit based attitudes of Roman society. Rome demonstrated traditional imperialism by extending their power and influence through means of colonisation and military force. Rome 's objective in the Punic Wars was to strategically subordinate Carthage, to increase their level of influence and improve their position on the world stage. The economic and material gain of war during the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC, was a motivating incentive for warfare for the aristocracy. This eagerness was further propelled by the desire
…show more content…
Before 294 BC, Rome solely ruled Italy with no overseas possessions. Yet, within 100 years, Rome had possession of the majority of the Mediterranean. The Roman actions that led to this were purposeful and strategic, with a series of small victories equating to their territorial success. This ruled out the argument that their advantageous position was a case of coincidence, but instead a carefully structured timeline of events. Roman imperialism was the process of territorial expansion, not a response to the threat to their power. Many historians have supported the notion of defensive imperialism. Whist it was stated and appears that the decision to aid the Mamertines was based on Roman fear of Carthage expansion (Garland & Dillon, 2005). What Rome didn 't announce, was that Messana was a key city in the complete control of Sicily. This held aspects of defensiveness, but only due to the threat of Carthage to Romes plans of expansion, not to Rome 's power or society. Ameling (2011) has subsequently brought attention to the reality that a Carthaginian garrison in Messana of less than 1000 troops is not …show more content…
In the battle of Mylae, Rome showcased their initiative and offensive strategy in their use of the Raven, to transform the battle from naval to land in accordance with their strengths, gaining valuable advantage. Once Carthage was vulnerable due to military defeat, Rome opportunistically seized Sardinia, revealing their eagerness to expand the Roman empire and steal Carthage 's power. The ultimatum directed at Carthage to hand over Hannibal or face war, was a reflection of their opportunism and hegemony. In yielding, Carthage would have entailed the loss of the entire empire, as the majority of allies and Carthaginians control was bound to the Barcid family (Rosenstein, 2006). Rome recognised this, and took the opportunity to gain territory and oppress Carthage, as the odds of the Second Punic war were very much in Rome 's favour before the alliance of Hannibal and Phillip V of Macedon. This was an offensive move by Rome, as Carthage avoided breaking the treaty until absolutely necessary, to avoid provoking Rome into war. Unfortunately for Carthage, the mighty power was actively waiting for an excuse and immediately seized the warfare opportunity. After their victory of the 2nd Punic War, Rome showcased their attacking characteristics in continuing to enter wars and expand their territory
In his account of the Punic Wars, Polybius declares “it is my contention that by far the most important part of historical writing lies in the consideration of the consequences of events, their accompanying circumstances, and above all their causes.” Polybius recognized the intricate relationship between circumstances, causes, and their consequences, and in his account of the Punic Wars he seeks to explain the reasons for Rome’s victory over Carthage. For centuries, Rome and Carthage lived at peace with one another, their spheres of influence separate enough to avoid conflict. Rome’s wealth and interests lay in farming and acquiring more land throughout Italy, while Carthage’s economy was naval based, and so keeping trade routes open in the western Mediterranean was most important to them. As late as 279 B.C., Rome and Carthage were allied against Pyrrhus of Epirus, and had signed two other treaties in earlier years. However, as the two powers increased in power and controlled progressively larger geographies, their interests were bound to conflict at some point, and that conflict came in the contest for control of Sicily. The result was a twenty-three year war, the beginning of a series of wars which would last over a century. The end of the first war, and the actions of Rome towards Carthage in the latter’s defeat, laid the foundation for the second war, and it was only after the third and final Punic War that Rome, after coming close to defeat in the second, annihilated Carthage and burned it to the ground, effectively ending the age of Carthaginian power. However, the question must be asked, what were the causes of these wars, and more specifically, which power was more responsible for the conflict? No Punic accounts exist...
A tribe known as the Catuvellauni, based out of Hertfordshire, appears to be the most powerful state in the southeastern Britain at the time of Caesar’s conquest. This is likely because their king Cassivellaunus killed the Trinovantian king, Imanuentius, in battle. If the Trinovantes were a strong power in southeastern Britain, as described by Caesar, it would likely take an even more powerful state to defeat them in battle. Additionally, the Catuvellauni were known to be the neighbors and “traditional enemies” of the Trinovantes (Dunnett 8, The Trinovantes). Again, if the Trinovantes were almost the most powerful tribe in southeastern Britain, it is unlikely that the Catuvellauni were not the most powerful state, since they had defeated the Trinovantes in battle. Lastly, Caesar describes the Catuvellauni as his “principal opponent” (Caesar 5.20). This description is important because during Roman conquest, Rome often sought to first eliminate the most powerful tribe in a region, regardless of whether this was through brute force or di...
The first Punic war started like this...Tradition holds that Phoenician settlers from the Mediterranean port of Tyre founded the city-state of Carthage on the northern coast of Africa, around 814 B.C. By 265 B.C. Carthage was the wealthiest and most advanced city in the region, as well as its leading naval power. Though Carthage had clashed violently with several other powers in the region, its relations with Rome were historically friendly, and the cities had signed several treaties defining trading rights over the year . In 264 B.C., Rome decided to intervene in a dispute on the western coast of the island of Sicily involving an attack by soldiers from the city of Syracuse against the city of Messina. While Carthage supported Syracuse, Rome supported Messina, and the struggle soon exploded into a direct conflict between the two powers, with control of Sicily at stake. Over the course of nearly 20 years, Rome rebuilt its entire fleet in order to confront Carthage's powerful navy, scoring its first sea victory at Mylae in 260 B.C. and a major victory in the Battle of Ecnomus in 256 B.C. Though its invasion of North Africa that same year ended in defeat, Rome refused to give up, and in 241 B.C. the Roman fleet was able to win a decisive victory against the Carthaginians at sea, breaking their legendary naval superiority. At the end of the First Punic War, Sicily became Rome's first overseas province.
It has been debated by varying scholars as to whether Caesar Augustus’ foreign policy to expand Rome’s empire had more to do with defensive imperialism as a response to encroaching threats, or rather, an aggressively, unprovoked move to claim hegemony over the known world. However, I would like to postulate in support of the former theory that in an attempt to restore and ensure long-lasting security to their empire, Augustus was forced to take proactive measures in order to preserve it. With territorial boundaries normally running along the rivers so as to provide a better defensive posture, he felt it necessary to expand the northern border to the river so as to secure their autonomy and position. Perhaps if he could establish a wide buffer
The first Punic War started with a request by the locals in Messana for the Romans to aid them in defeating the Carthaginians. Messana was at the southern tip of Italy and would be a great asset to the already superior naval fleet of Carthage. Rome saw this to be a good opportunity to halt the expansion of the Carthaginian Empire and to stop the possible attack on Italy (which was controlled by Rome). Despite this fact the Roman council debated on whether to attack on these premises or not, but eventually it was decided that they would wage war on the Carthaginians. The Carthaginians were then told that they must halt their invasion or war would be waged. They did not stop and Rome declared war.
Throughout its early history Rome constantly came up new innovative ideas have the upper hand over its enemies. The Romans were a determined people that believed that ruling the world was their destiny and after the defeat of its’ greatest rival Carthage, they were now masters of the Mediterranean. Rome would never again be threatened until the empire’s fall hundreds of years later. The Romans would now begin to expand their empire past Italy, and with great success, come to rule the Western world.
The Roman Republic was an ancient territory known for its people, people that would fight for passion, unity, and for the prosperity of their country. Carthage, in historic times, was known for its great rulers, especially of the likes of Hannibal. Both of these countries had a mindset on expansion. Both were the worst of rivals. And during the time of the Punic Wars, Carthage was on the brink of becoming the equal to Rome. In fact, during much of the war, it can be argued that Carthage was already stronger than the likes of Rome. Both powers had their strengths. They both had their weaknesses. All in all, this led to Rome becoming a naval power, and eventually taking the best
The Second Punic War, also called the Second Carthaginian War, took place from 218 to 201 B.C between the Roman Republic and Carthaginian Empire. There were three Punic Wars in all, resulting in Roman dominance over the Mediterranean. Rome saw how large Carthage was getting and how much power it was gaining. This, along with the fact that Carthage controlled three islands off the coast of Italy, was an issue for Rome. Rome insisted that Carthage join the Republic, to which Carthage disagreed. The two groups fought for twenty years, ending the wars when Carthage offered Rome the island of Sicily in exchange for peace. Rome took Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia. Carthage, lead by Hamilcar Barca, took off to fight Spain. Hamilcar’s son, Hannibal, was nine years old at the time. Before they left Carthage, Hamilcar made his son promise that when he was older he would fight Rome for revenge. Hannibal agreed, thus beginning the legend of Hannibal, military genius. (Second)
The Romans had numerous incentives to go to war in 200 BCE, which included but were not limited to fear, pride, revenge, and economic growth. Rome was a fast-growing empire and its next step was to expand out of the Italian peninsula and become a Mediterranean power. Rome feared Phillip V, thinking that he was aligning with Egypt to begin another Macedonian War, and would attack Rome’s Aetolian allies. During the Sabine Wars, Rome voted to go to war not because the Sabines attacked them, but rather because they feared how powerful the Sabines were becoming. This fear of other powerful nations repeatedly drove Rome to war and was used to “justify” the war. However, Rome realized that wealthy states could be made to pay lucrative indemnities,
Rome became a powerful empire engulfing much of Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia and what seemed like this great entity called the Romans were always in the search of more territory and land to conquer and assimilate into their ever growing vast empire. However, this was not always the case, before Rome became one of the greatest empires in all of history, Rome was a republic. They were government consisted of a Senate who much like our country today represented certain classes of the citizens of the Republic. During the growth and rise of the Roman republic conquering neighboring territories and competing for land grabs was not Romans primary objectives. Romans believed in the well being and wealth of Rome, and if that meant the total destruction of a potential adversary, then as history will show that is unfortunately to the detriment of the adversary what happened.
The fate of the island of Sicily hangs in balance. The Romans hunger for power and land, while Carthage wants the same. Both are powerful and rich traders and planned to stay that way. They were both the most powerful forces in the Mediterranean. Romans held military glory in the highest regard, and made military service a required part of political advancement. Carthage also held military glory highly but their military mainly consisted of mercenary soldiers rather than citizen soldiers
“the Romans co-opted their former opponents by making them partners in the spoils of conquest, an arrangement that in turn enhanced Rome’s wealth and authority.”(68) Conquering these regions instead of just trying to expand the empire but making it weaker in the process, it was strengthened in the numbers. They did adopt one aspect of Alexander the Great’s rule by also mixing the origins of the conquered with the culture of the Romans. Mediterranean rulers did not want their imperialism to continue to weaken them but strengthen. This became a prosperous time for the Roman Citizens, plebeians and upper class alike. For the first time in a while they were both flourishing under the same conditions.
The Second Punic war, beginning in 218 BC, was the second major war between the Roman Empire and the Carthage. Around the same time, the Roman Empire deployed troops to the Northeastern peninsula of Spain to keep reinforcements, from the Carthaginian South, from getting to Hannibal’s armies in Italy to assist them. In A Histor...
In early centuries, Romans claimed their warfare was mostly defensive and they were protecting themselves against their enemies. Through their wars, Romans gained new territories, yet Romans claimed territorial expansion was not their main goal. Rome has been accused for using defensive aggression. Romans, out of fear of an attack from rivals at their borders, would preemptively attack enemies. After their enemies were defeated, Romans would seize the enemy territory (Parker 2014). Eventually, after centuries of battles and expansions Romans conquered Greece. During 246 BC Romans began to take over Greece. Initially, Romans in Italy were conquering parts of the Mediterranean. Romans began with Sicily, an island near Italy. By 275 BC, Romans were fighting Carthaginians in alliance with Greeks. Greeks allied Carthaginians out of fear of Roman power expansion. Romans were angry at Greece for such an alliance and after winning against Carthaginians, began to take over Greece as well (Carr 2012).
Ancient Rome, the period between the 8th and 1st centuries B.C. in which Rome grew from a little colony to an emerging empire. "Roman imperialism introduced extremes of wealth and poverty that honed social and economic conflict within the Roman state ." The enormous army and their countless loots, as well as their captured slaves, produced many changes along the countryside such as small farms becoming large plantations, and peasants left without lands decided to journey to Rome and other cities. "Immense wealth inflamed the ambitions of Roman nobles who struggled for personal domination rather than collective rule ." This dominant emergence of power and rule thus led to the conquering and control of other societies. The following paragraphs will be divided in order to partition the overall structure of the Roman Empire and the ethics and justifications of their colonial methods.