Prior to Carthage's defeat by Rome in the Second Punic War, Carthage was a Mediterranean powerhouse. In fact, Carthage and Rome were almost equaled in many respects. Both had vast amounts of territories in the Mediterranian.Carthage had colonies in North Africa, Ibiza, Corsica (Great Military Battles, 2013). Both had great cultural achievements. Rome is known for its architecture, but so was the Carthaginians. As far back as 6th century BCE, the Carthaginians already had tall buildings as high as six stories to serve as apartments as well as indoor plumbing (Great Military Battles, 2013). Both were also economic powerhouses with expansive trade networks. Both also had similar governing systems, both having magistrates/consuls as the executive
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...
After the Costly victory of the Civil War, the Union need to reunite. The Union needed to readmit the rebellious southern states back into the country. Some Americans wanted to punish the south because of the war. They wanted to brutally reunify the country. Others, seeking a much more kinder approach, wanted to reunify the nation in a much more generous way. Both sides of the debate, wanted African Americans to have their freedom however. The problem for President Abraham Lincoln was difficult to answer, and had a detrimental impact on the United States that would last an eternity. Should the reconstruction plan be based on punishment or reunification? What are the civil liberties given to the newly emancipated African Americans? What should
As what happens so often, history is written by the side who wins and in the case of the Punic Wars and Carthage itself most of the information available today comes from Roman sources and authors whose knowledge has been passed down through the ages. According to legend Carthage was initially settled as a Phoenician trading colony (the word “Punic” is Latin for Phoenician) in 813 B.C by the Phoenician Queen Elissa (Mark). From Carthage’s prime location as a trade port its power and prestige grew rather quickly and its expansion brought the city into conflict with another growing ambitious city state called Rome.
The Roman Empire had access to civilization something that lacks in the Persian Empire. Another difference in the advancement of both empires is the fact that the Roma Empire had a republican system of governance while the Persian Empire was a complete monarchy. The Persian Empire also had an elaborate taxation system that ensured people subjected to the central government while the Roman Empire did not have this feature.
If the second Punic war is to be discussed, I think it is very important to discuss the first Punic war and its motivations and outcomes, because there is a significant link between the two. Of course, as we know a second of anything is made possible by the first, and in the case of the Punic wars, the first war not only made way for the second, it also gave birth and motivation to one of the greatest and most influential participants of the second Punic war, Hannibal. As we explore the dusk of the first Punic war to the dawn of the second, we can see how Hannibal as a military commander was destined to wreak havoc on the Roman military.
During the First Punic War Rome, Rome successfully defeated the Carthage. The conflict was chiefly due to who would control the important trade waterways of the Mediterranean Sea.
The ancient city of Carthage was one of great splendor and magnificence. Carthage thrived on trade throughout the Mediterranean basin. Trade was how their empire had been built. Carthage dominated the Mediterranean basin for centuries until another empire began to rise. Rome began to build their empire upon trade as well. With the building of an empire, Rome built an extraordinary military, as did Carthage. Since trade was vital to the expansion of both empires, the island of Sicily fell under watchful eyes. Sicily’s strategic position in the Mediterranean was important to trade. The Carthaginians were in Sicily first, but the Romans realized how strategic Sicily was. The Romans saw Carthage as a great threat to their empire. Tensions grew between Carthage and Rome over Sicily; this caused a series of wars that changed the ancient world. These wars became known as the Punic Wars.
The Second punic war...Over the next decades, Rome took over control of both Corsica and Sardinia as well, but Carthage was able to establish a new base of influence in Spain beginning in 237 B.C., under the leadership of the powerful general Hamilcar Barca and, later, his son-in-law Hasdrubal. According to Polybius and Livy in their...
Since the beginning of time, man has waged war on his neighbors, his friends and his enemies. In many cases these wars were caused by power-hungry nations that were in the process of expanding their empire and ended up stepping on the toes of another superpower or ally of a superpower. In the case of the first Punic War between Rome and Carthage, Carthage was extending its empire and they stepped on Rome’s toes. During the course of this war the winner was unclear but at times victory seemed eminent for both sides until Rome finally won. The Romans had control in the first part of the war but this would not last. After the Romans first win they decided that they needed a victory over the city of Carthage but this would turn the tides in favor of the Carthaginians. For some 15 years after this defeat of Rome the tides went back and forth between the two but would eventually lead to the Romans victory. After the victory, Rome made some very harsh demands and Carthage filled those demands even though some of them were very extreme.
even today for his campaign, the hatred Hannibal felt for Rome was clearly seen on the
...fend the declining Carthage power in the north coast of Africa. Hannibal entered in to battle with Scipio Africanus the Elder. There his younger men fled, some to the Romans, and his veteran warriors were simply beat. Carthage gave in to Rome and the Second Punic War was over. With a peace agreement, Hannibal sought out to gage battle with the Romans. He amended the Carthaginian constitution, reformed the government and made changed to the finances. The Romans saw this as breaking the original peace offering. Hannibal took refuge in Syria and fought with them against the Romans. When Syria was defeated, part of the peace treaty was the surrender of Hannibal to the Romans. Hannibal escaped to Bithynia in 148 BC in northern Asia Minor. Rome once again demanded the surrender of Hannibal. Hannibal ended his life and fight against the Romans by taking poison in 147 BC.
Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome may have some things in common and some things not in common, but they both were two strong empires. These two were most commonly known because they accomplished a lot in many years they have been around.
The political system of both Roman empires was based on virtue and the republic was founded with the Senate as the center. The magistrates were elected annually and also had control of the armies. The key to Roman superiority was the patriotism and training and drills.
Carthage was founded about 100years earlier than Rome and had very fertile lands and an excellent harbor. It grew economically and politically through trading Gold from Spain, Ivory, Linen, precious stones, and other valuable minerals from different states. They had a very large number of trading vessels to load these products and carry them from pot to pot. They also had a powerful navy of warships. Like the Roman empire the Carthagean empire acquired dominion over the native races of Africa, the Lydians and the Numidians. These two great states had controls over the small states they made their allies, or members of their confederations. They were almost equal in many ways, and even their economies
Thirdly, the Romans were far more advanced than Greece in terms of engineering progress. In both the areas of civil and hydraulic engineering, Rome towered above Greece. They constructed a network of durable, paved highways and city streets; in fact, most everything had concrete walls and pavement.