Both Carthage and Rome were famous as two powerful nation situated at the western Mediterranean and Italian Peninsula. Throughout the history, there were fierce rivalries and wars existed between Carthage and Rome. These two nationals rose together on the opposite side of the Mediterranean Sea. How did Carthage become almost the equal of Rome? In this essay, I will try to answer this question by showing the strength of both Rome and Carthage and how the rise of Carthage eventually led to Rome becoming a naval power. Firstly, Carthaginian became almost equal to Roman in power under their great military commander, Hannibal. But most of the dominion acquired by Carthage was through the desperate contest with Rome. For more than hundred years, these two cities went to war against each other but in most cases, Rome seemed to have won over Carthage.
Secondly, Carthage was originally founded by tyrant colony. But Carthage was just like Rome, it was the center of commerce with great navy power. Moreover, they were kind of aggressive explorers to make new discovery. They built ships to explore the Mediterranean Sea. As
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Under this leadership, the city silently grew to its greatness which eventually had enough power and capacity to compete with Rome. In 264 B.C.E. this two mighty empires finally clashed and fought for over 2 decades as they devastated Sicily with their inconclusive battles. In the end, the final outcome was decided at sea battle. As Romans navy was no match for Carthaginians, Roman invented the corvu, a long plank with a heavy spike protruding from the end that, when dropped, effectively pinned two warships together to overcome their deficiency (Morey, 1901). The corvu gave advantages to Roman soldiers as they could rush over and fight the Carthaginians hand-to-hand. When the Roman navy achieved a decisive victory in 241 BC, the first Punic water
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...
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.
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 aggressive, 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 of room along Roman lands, he could ensure the safety of the people, the cities, and most of all—the government.
The Roman Empire began as a small colony, in the city of Rome, and eventually, became one of the largest empires that the world has ever known before its ultimate demise. Because of the vast size of their territory, and the number of cultures they consumed throughout their existence, the Romans were heavily influenced by the Greeks and other Hellenistic civilizations. Two different groups of professors argue this point. Professors Matthews, Platt, and Noble argue this influence is reflected by Roman music, philosophy, literature, architecture, art, culture/government, and technology and science; and Professor Weber argues this is reflected in the areas of government/law, the influence and effects of conquests, culture, religion, architecture and art, and philosophy. Both parties make compelling arguments as to why the Romans were heirs to Greek and Hellenistic civilization however, it will be demonstrated that Matthews et al. provide a more thorough argument than Weber.
In the years following the Persian Wars in 479 B.C., Athens had come out on top being the most dominantly powerful of any Greek city with a navy that had superior strength that increased day by day. The Athenians “ruled with heavy-handed, even brutal force as well as with reason” (Kagan 2). This was due largely to the fact that Athens had a stable and effective government, which only increased their advantage in proving themselv...
18: Rome, the massive Empire consumed the Mediterranean and all of the territories that surrounded it. Rome was not only the foundation of artistic, intellectual, and cultural dominance; it also became the main influential reason of genius in so many of the existing societies of the western world. As always we have to take the good with the bad and take the losses with the gains. What no one knew at the time was that the long lasting dominance that the Roman Empire created would eventually fail. With a loss comes an opportunity for a second chance, for a rebirth of sorts that could only be a dream for other civilizations. With the collapse of one of the greatest empires, opportunities surfaced for new and upcoming societies to take advantage of.
Dio, Cassius. "Roman History - Book 50." 17 June 2011. University of Chicago. 31 October 2011 .
Hannibal Barca was a Carthaginian military general who promised as a kid to always think of Rome as his enemy. He grew up and fought against Rome, but in the end he failed to win after fighting many battles. Even though Hannibal’s career was technically considered a failure, it is believed by some that his career was not entirely bad. In this essay we will talk about Hannibal’s rise to power, the Second Punic war, and his later career and death. When studying the career of Hannibal the subject of failure is important because although he was judged a failure by some at the time, history proved him to be a success in many ways.
Even before the war started, Hannibal knew what he was going to do. Since Carthage had no navy, there was no hope of going directly from Carthage to Italy over the Mediterranean Sea. Hannibal thought up a dangerous but ingenious plan. In order to get to Italy over land, Hannibal and his army would have to travel from Carthage-controlled Spain across the Alps and into the heart of the enemy. Hannibal left in the cold winter of 218 B.C. with 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, and 37 war elephants. While crossing the Alps, “Hannibal’s force suffered greatly from the elements and the hostility of the local tribesmen” (Beshara, 3). By the time they reached Italy, after only fourteen days, over 9,000 men had perished along with most of the elephants, but this number was soon replenished after 14,000 northern Gaul rebels joined Hannibal’s army. This group of 60,000 men proved superior to the Roman forces, and after at least three recorded major victories, the Roman senate was exasperated. An army of 80,000 Roman soldiers was sent to stop Hannibal’s army of now 50,000 once and for all. In July of 216 B.C., the Romans engaged the Carthaginians in “the neighborhood of Cannae on the Italian east coast” (Lendering, 2). Greatly outnumbered, Hannibal realized that he would have to win by strategy, and that is exactly what he did. As the two lines met, Hannibal’s cavalry gained the flanks and, moving up the sides, attacked the rear of the Roman line.
The Carthaginians and Romans fought in three different wars over the course of 118 years. Romans fought the Carthaginians to ruin their hold on a chain of islands that would let them control the Western Mediterranean. The Romans wanted to have control. They then fought over land in Italy, particularly Sicily. In the third conflict, Carthaginians tried to save their city and land from being taken over completely by Romans. In these wars, they mainly fought over trade routes in the Mediterranean. Each wanted power and more territorial possession.
...s the collision on Carthage from which Rome emerged ruler of the western Mediterranean. Then there is the third the subjection of the Hellenistic states that gravitated Romans in close contact with the Greek civilization.
Of course Augustus consolidated and brought all of the powers of Rome closer together allowing Augustus to slowly take most of the Republics power for himself. Some of the titles and powers that he senate executively gave to Augustus were: “principate”, this means meant “first citizen” which was basically the claim to emperor. Then there was “tribunica potestas” full power of the tribunes, which allowed Augustus Caesar to call the entire senate into a session whenever he wanted. Lastly there was “pontifex maximus” which made him the head of the religious part of Rome. With all of these large powers confined to himself along with his huge influence with the people he became the strongest political power in Rome forming it into a constitutional monarchy where he ruled at the top and then took advice from the senate. Other than just giving him extra power and titles the senate also carried out his decrees, an example of this would be when Augustus wanted to change the way extortion was handled and then the senate made it law shortly after. (WRW. Sc. #1,7, pp. 78-81, 82-83, 88-90.) (McKAY. pp.
Rome, even at its beginnings, proved to be a force to be reckoned with. It’s rapid growth and accumulation of power and repeated victories over powerful neighbors set Rome in a position of great authority and influence. As the leader of early Rome, Romulus’ effective command of his men and governance of his people provided the foundation for the building of a great city. Livy emphasizes Romulus’ possible divine origins and strong ties to deities as a validation and reinforcement of his ability to rule. A nation’s sole defense cannot be just bricks and mortar, it requires an army and a will and Romulus was able to successfully take action against the aggressors when action was needed.
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
Although both Roman and Greek civilizations shared similarities in the areas of art and literature, their differences were many and prominent. Their contrasting aspects rest mainly upon political systems and engineering progress, but there are also several small discrepancies that distinguish between these two societies. This essay will examine these differences and explain why, ultimately, Rome was the more advanced civilization of the two.