⚔️ Punic Wars Flashcards
What war did the Romans fight from 264-241 BC?
1st Punic War
What were the years for the First Punic War?
264-241 BC
Where did the Carthaginians originate from?
Phoenicia
The First Punic War broke out because of a conflict with Carthage over what island?
Sicily
What Sicilian city did the Romans besiege in 262 BC?
Agrigentum
What kind of Carthaginian ship did the Romans first model their navy on?
quinquereme
What is a quinquereme?
a ship with five banks of oars
What group of Campanian mercenaries overran Messana after abandoning their agreement to fight for the Syracusans?
Mamertines
What does “Mamertines” mean?
men of mars
What Sicilian city did the Mamertines overrun after abandoning their agreement to fight for Syracuse?
Messana
Who did the Mamertines appeal to for help against the Syracusans?
Carthage
When Carthage refused to leave Messana, who did the Mamertines appeal to for help?
Rome
Why did the Mamertines appeal to Rome for help?
to make Carthage leave Messana
What Sicilian city did the Romans besiege in 264 BC?
Messana
The siege of what city in 264 BC began the First Punic War?
Messana
What Roman admiral won Rome’s first major naval battle at Mylae in 260 BC?
Duilius
At what battle in 260 BC did the Rome win its first major naval battle against the Carthaginians?
Mylae
What grappling hook attached to a plank did the Romans use to board enemy ships?
corvus
What is a “corvus”?
grappling hook attached to a plank
What device did the Romans use to board Carthaginian ships and produce hand to hand combat?
corvus
At what battle in 256 BC did Regulus and the Romans defeat the Carthaginian navy?
Cape Ecnomus
In what year did Regulus defeat the Carthaginians at Cape Ecnomus?
256 BC
What was Regulus’ strategy after winning at Cape Ecnomus?
attack Carthage
What Spartan mercenary defeated and captured Regulus at the Bagradas Valley in 255 BC?
Xanthippus
At what battle in 255 BC did the Spartan mercenary Xanthippus help the Carthaginians defeat and capture Regulus?
Bagradas Valley
What Spartan mercenary did the Carthaginians hire to assist against the Romans?
Xanthippus
What Roman was captured after the Bagradas Valley?
Regulus
What Roman did the Carthaginians release on the condition that he return to Carthage with acceptable peace terms?
Regulus
What happened when Regulus returned to Carthage after refusing to negotiate peace terms with the Romans?
he was executed
At what battle in 249 BC was the Roman admiral Claudius Pulcher defeated by the Carthaginians?
Drepana
Who threw the sacred chickens overboard before the Drepana because they refused to eat?
Claudius Pulcher
Why did Claudius Pulcher throw the sacred chickens overboard before the Drepana?
they refused to eat
Who reportedly said “if they won’t eat, let them drink” before he threw the sacred chickens overboard?
Claudius Pulcher
What did Claudius Pulcher say before he threw the sacred chickens overboard when they refused to eat?
if they won’t eat, let them drink
At what battle in 241 BC did the Romans defeat the Carthaginians and end the First Punic War?
Aegates Islands
In what year did the Lutatius Catulus defeat the Carthaginians at the Aegates Islands and end the First Punic War?
241 BC
What Roman admiral defeated Carthage at the Aegates Islands and ended the First Punic War?
Lutatius Catulus
What island did Rome gain control of at the end of the First Punic War?
Sicily
What does the name “Barca” mean in Carthaginian?
blitz / lightning
During the First Punic War who was the most brilliant Carthaginian general?
Hamilcar Barca
What city in Spain is named after Hamilcar Barca?
Barcelona
Who led the effort to rebuild the Carthaginian strength after the First Punic War?
Hamilcar Barca
What Carthaginian made his young son Hannibal swear eternal hatred for Rome in return for the opportunity to join his father’s military exploits?
Hamilcar Barca
What war did the Romans fight from 218-202 BC?
Second Punic War
What were the years of the Second Punic War?
218-202 BC
What war began when Carthage crossed the Ebro River in Spain to attack Saguntum?
Second Punic War
What river in Spain did Carthage cross to attack Saguntum?
Ebro River
What treaty from 226 BC did the Carthaginians break by attacking Saguntum?
Ebro River Treaty
What city did Carthage beseige in 219 BC to begin the Second Punic War?
Saguntum
What Carthaginian negotiated the Ebro River Treaty with Rome in 226 BC?
Hasdrubal
What enemy of Rome crossed the Alps with 37 war elephants in 219 BC?
Hannibal
At what battle in 218 BC did Hannibal defeat Publius Cornelius Scipio and the Romans?
Ticinus River
Who saved his father in battle at the Ticinus River in 218 BC?
Scipio Africanus
At what battle in 218 BC did Hannibal defeat Sempronius Longus and the Romans?
Trebia River
After his victory at the Ticinus River, where did Hannibal defeat the forces of Sempronius Longus?
Trebia River
At what battle in 217 BC did Hannibal entrap and defeat Flaminius and the Romans?
Lake Trasimene
What Roman general was defeated by Hannibal at Lake Trasimene in 217 BC?
Flaminius
At what battle in 216 BC did Hannibal issues the Romans their worst ever defeat?
Cannae
What two generals were horribly defeated by Hannibal at Cannae in 216 BC?
Paulus & Varro
How did Hannibal defeat the Romans at Cannae?
drew the Romans into the center and surrounded them
Which consul died in battle at Cannae in 216 BC?
Aemilius Paulus
What Roman dictator was known as “the delayer”?
Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator
What Roman dictator was known as “the shield of Rome”?
Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator
After Rome’s early catastrophic defeats to Hannibal who was made dictator?
Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator
What was Quintus Fabius Maximus’ strategy against Hannibal?
stay close and harass him but avoid all out battle
Who adopted a delaying strategy and avoided all out battle with Hannibal when he was appointed dictator?
Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator
What does “Cunctator” mean?
The Delayer
Who was referred to as “the sword of Rome”?
Marcellus
What Roman general captured Syracuse in Sicily in 211 BC?
Marcellus
What Sicilian city did Marcellus capture in 211 BC?
Syracuse
What Syracusan engineer attempted to defend the city from the Romans?
Archimedes
What are the Spolia Opima?
“richest spoils” won by a general who defeated the opposing general in single combat
What award was given to a general who defeated the opposing general in single combat?
Spolia Opima
Who was the third and final Roman to win the Spolia Opima?
Marcellus
Who won the Spolia Opima by defeating Viridomarus in single combat at Clastidium in 222 BC?
Marcellus
Who did Marcellus defeat in single combat to win the Spolia Opima in 222 BC?
Viridomarus
At what battle in 222 BC did Marcellus defeat the Gallic chieftain Viridomarus to win the Spolia Opima?
Clastidium
Who won the first Spolia Opima by defeating Acron?
Romulus
Who did Romulus defeat to win the first Spolia Opima?
Acron
Who defeated Tolumnius at Fidenae to win the second Spolia Opima
Cossus
Who did Cossus defeat to win the second Spolia Opima?
Tolumnius
At what battle in 426 BC did Cossus defeat Tolumnius and win the Spolia Opima?
Fidenae
Who famously shouted “Eureka” and ran naked through the streets of Syracuse when he discovered the principle of buoyancy?
Archimedes
What did Archimedes shout as he ran naked through the streets of Syracuse after he discovered the principle of buoyancy?
Eureka
Who said “don’t disturb my circles” referring to his drawings in the sand when Roman soldiers came to kill him?
Archimedes
What did Archimedes say when the Romans soldiers came to kill him?
Don’t distub my circles
What brother of Hannibal defended Spain while Hannibal invaded Italy?
Hasdrubal
What city in Spain did Scipio Africanus capture in 209 BC?
Carthago Nova
What Roman general captured Carthago Nova in 209 BC?
Scipio Africanus
At what 207 BC was Hasdrubal killed while trying to bring reinforcements to Hannibal in Italy?
Metaurus River
What Roman general defeated and killed Hasdrubal at the Metaurus River in 207 BC?
Claudius Nero
Whose head was thrown into Hannibal’s tent after he was killed at the Metaurus River?
Hasdrubal’s
What king of Numidia aided Scipio Africanus in defeating Hannibal at Zama in 202 BC?
Massinissa
Whose Numidian cavalry assisted Scipio Africanus in defeating Hannibal at Zama in 202 BC?
Massinissa
At what battle in 202 BC did Massinissa help Scipio Africanus defeat Hannibal?
Zama
At what battle in 203 BC did Scipio and Massinissa defeat and capture Syphax?
Great Plains
What former enemy of Rome became an advisor admiral for the Seleucid monarch Antiochus the Great in a war against Rome?
Hannibal
For what Seleucid monarch did Hannibal become an advisor admiral for?
Antiochus the Great
At whose court did Hannibal commit suicide?
King Prusias
Who committed suicide at the court of King Prusias when the Romans were closing in on him?
Hannibal
