Carthage (Social Studies) Flashcards
Two principal characteristics of the Carthaginians
- Richest most well-connected civilizations before the rise of Rome
- Deficient ruling class and heavy reliance of mercenaries
When does Carthage was founded? Explain with details
Around 814 BC, as Phoenician City, by Queen Dido or Elissa, after she was ousted from the island-city of Tyre, near the Middle East
Since the beginning ancient Carthaginian history was influenced by their exodus by sea and by their seafaring history from the Phoenicians.
Describe their geographical zones and influence
- They were located in the northern tip of Africa (Tunisia)
- Most of the region was very dry and lacked of resources
- The vicinity of the city had some green areas and water sources
- Because of the area´s condition, they rely on trade for their food and materials, making them to develop a massive and effective navy, to accompany their trading vessels and to be able to project their power in the region.
- They conquered most of North Africa, parts of Spain, and the island of the Balearic, Sardinia, Corsica and parts of Sicily.
Describe completely, with details, the First Punic War
The First Punic War (264-241 a.C.) began with the Roman assault of the Sicilian city of Messina, controlled by the Carthaginians, who gave the Romans a military point of support on the island.
The Romans built an armada to challenge the powerful Carthaginian navy and take control of the Sicilian coasts. Between naval battles and storms, 700 Roman quinqueremes and 500 Carthaginians were lost along with hundreds of thousands of lives. The dominion of the sea was won and lost repeatedly by both sides.
In the year 255 a. C., a Carthaginian invasion ended with the Roman defeat in battle and the capture of the Roman consul Marcus Atilius Regulus.
Throughout the war, the Romans conquered Sicily step by step and led the Carthaginians to the extreme west of the island. With Rome almost in the economic collapse, the senate issued a tribute to collect the money and invest it in a new fleet led by Quintus Lutatius Catulus.
The battle that followed in the Egadas Islands concluded with the definitive defeat of the Carthaginian fleet, which forced the Punic State to surrender. In the peace treaty (Treaty of Lutatius) that was signed, Carthage was expelled from Sicily (which became the first Roman province) and forced to pay a heavy compensation.
The war was followed by a rebellion in Carthage of his mercenaries. The Romans took advantage of the weakness of the Carthaginian Republic to seize their possessions in Corsica and Sardinia, violating the peace treaty. The irresolution of the differences between the two powers finally led to the Second Punic War.
Describe completely, with details, the Second Punic War
For the Second Punic War (218-201 BC), in which the Carthaginians fought against Publius Scipio Africanus, Hannibal, son of Hamilcar, took control of the Carthaginians forces in Spain and fought his way through the Alps.
There he defeated the Gaelic tribes in the Alps, and when he came down was joined by many of the nearby tribes who hated the Romans. Then Hannibal spent 10 years fighting the Romans, winning impressive victories such as the River Trebia, Lake Tresimene, Capua and the famous battle of Cannae.
The irony of the war is that Hannibal was never defeated in 10 years, he massacred hundreds of thousands of Romans, but he didn’t take Rome and couldn’t win the war.
Then, he returned to Carthage to defend the city from the Romans and was defeated for the first time in the Battle of Zama. After this defeat Carthage surrendered, and lost most of its territory.
Describe completely, with details, the Third Punic War
In the Third Punic War (149-146 a.C.), Masinissa, king of Numidia turned agent of Rome, harassed the Carthaginians, dragging Carthage into a defensive war in 150 BC. This was the excuse that made intervention to Rome, who accused his rival of having violated the clauses of their treaty.
Therefore, the Romans made a violent attack against the Carthaginians; these surrounded , asked for peace, agreed to give their weapons, but refused to be transferred to the capital.
This provoked the complete desolation of his land, becoming ages publicus of Rome. The survivors were enslaved or accompanied Scipius Africanus in his triumphal parade.
Tell some facts about the military of Carthage
- It was one of the largest military forces in the Ancient World
- It allowed Carthaginians to expand into Sardinia and Balearic Island
- When Carthage was fighting against the Greeks in order to take control of the island of Sicily, the adopted the Greek´s phalanx formation of the hoplites, something that developed the Carthage´s tactics and weaponry
- The army was composed almost exclusively of foreign mercenary units while its navy was manned by citizens: Libyans, Numidians, Iberians, Gauls, and Greeks.
Describe completely, with details, the biography of Hannibal
Hannibal was a Carthaginian general during the Second Punic War between Carthage and Rome (218-202 BC). He is considered one of the greatest generals of antiquity and his tactics are still studied and used in the present day.
Hannibal, leading an army of Iberian and North African mercenaries, crossed the Pyrenees. With its 90,000 men, 12,000 horsemen and 40 elephants, it took 36 days to cross the Alps, with the help of new allies: the Gauls. With a demoralized host, he reached the Italian peninsula, he won the battles of Trebia, Trasimene and Cannae.
In the Punic Wars, he had to suffer several ambushes and deadly attacks, which led him to lose several soldiers, all his elephants, and even his eye. He was called back to Africa to defend Carthage from Roman invasion, was defeated at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC by Scipio Africanus (236-183 BC) and retired from service to Carthage.
He died in 183 BC by drinking poison. Hannibal extended the conquest of his father in the Iberian Peninsula, took control and managed to domain most part of Italic Peninsula, and improved the strategies and weaponry of Carthage.
Explain briefly the lives of Hamilcar Barca and Hasdrubal
Hamilcar Barca was a Carthaginian general active in the First Punic War (264-241 BC). He successfully expanded Carthaginian interests in southern Spain. In these conflicts, Hamilcar had switched Carthage from a naval power to a land power with great success, and he firmly established the Barca´s family as the ruling house of Carthage. He was the father of Hannibal Barca who continued his father’s tactics and won major land battles in Italy during the Second Punic War.
Hasdrubal Barca was the younger brother of the Carthaginian general Hannibal (247-183 BC) and commanded the forces of Carthage against Rome in Spain during the Second Punic War (218-202 BC).
Describe completely, with details, the Battle of the River Trebia
In the battle located in the River Trebia, The Carthaginians were well nourished and optimal conditions to face the almost asleep Romans. Hannibal placed 1000 velites, backed by 20 000 soldiers behind, these, in turn, flanked by around 10 000, with 15 elephants on each flank.
The Romans were demoralized because of the cold, and intimidated by the presence of the elephants. In the same way, his cavalry was defeated.
Hundreds of Romans were crushed by the elephants, massacred and killed by the Carthaginian infantry, and others drowned while trying to cross the river. The survivors disbanded and fled towards Plascencia.
Describe completely, with details, the Battle of Lake Trasimene
While Flaminio was persecuting Hannibal, he fell into his trap, being circumnavigated by the Carthaginians, who neutralized the Romans’ strategy and blocked any means of escape. Cornered towards the lake, 15 000 men (Flaminio included) died in that massacre. Another 10 000 were imprisoned, and this micro battle allowed to equip the Carthaginian troops of Hannibal.
Describe completely, with details, the Battle of Cannae
After the two recent and humiliating defeats of the Romans at the hands of the Carthaginians, they decided to equip their infantry with 87 000 soldiers to defeat Hannibal in Cannae. Hannibal created a genuine plan: the pincer tactic (or the “V” technique). In the center were the Gauls, or the infantry he trusted least, flanked by the Carthaginian cavalry; the objective was to attract the enemy through the center, so that the lateral ones were advancing and closing.
With the advance of the Romans at the height of the battle, the Carthaginians retreated, continued to attack the Romans, and, without realizing it, a large arc of enemies bordered them completely, causing the death of around 60 000-70 000 Romans.
