Reasons for the Outbreak of the Second Punic War Flashcards
Carthage
One of most heavily fortified cities in the ancient world
Two harbours
North coast of Africa
Controlled large portion of the western mediterranean, inc. Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily
Two harbours of Carthage
Both heavily defended
One for trade
One for military – deterred invaders, made merchants feel safe
Rome, by 264 BC
Unified Italy under its control
Senate wanted to expand its trade into the Mediterranean
Paid, like most traders, for harbour dues to Carthage
What did the agreement signed in 348 say
That Rome had to pay harbour dues to Carthage
What lead to the First Punic War
Carthage defeated in Sicily
Rome saw opportunity to take control
Rome invaded Sicily, leading to First Punic War
What did harbour dues do
Helped maintain Carthage’s dominance over the Mediteranean
First Punic War
264 to 241
Rome’s fleet destroyed the Carthagian navy in the Battle of the Agates Islands
Treaty of Lutatius
Polybius’s terms
Agreed in 241 by Roman consul Gaius Lutatius Catulus and Gesco, deputy of Hamilcar Barca
Polybius
Carthage to
* Leave Sicily
* Hand over all POWs
* Pay 3,200 talents of silver over 20 years
In return
* Carthage keeps other overseas territories, inc. Sardinia and Corsica
Gaius Lutatius Catulus
Agreed to the Treaty of Lutatius
Gesco
Deputy of Hamilcar Barca, sent instead of the general as he refused to comprimise
Hamilcar barca
Carthagian General
Father of Hannibal
Huge influence on his son
Commanded Carthagian forces in the First Punic War, and started the conquest of Spain
Died in battle during the campaigns in Spain
Hamilcar Barca dates
c. 275-228
Truceless War
Revolt of Carthagian mercenaries in Africa, took 3 years to subdue
Why did the Truceless War start
Hanno the Great, a Carthagian politician, refused to pay the mercenaries after the loss of the First Punic War
Mercenaries decided to take control of African cities as revenge
Who ended the Truceless War
Hamilcar Barca
What did Rome do during the Truceless War
Took Sardinia and Corsica, taking advantage of Carthage’s problems
Result of Rome annexing Corsica and Sardinia
Hamilcar Barca and many other leaders saw this as an act of war, and argued Rome had broken the Treaty of Lutatius, because they had invaded Carthagian territory
Carthage was in no position to declare war on Rome or demand compensation
Polybius sees this as what lead to the Second Punic War
Barcids
Powerful Carthagian family
Nicknamed Barca, meaning thunderbolt, due to Hamilcar’s success in the First Punic War
Hamilcar Barca in the First Punic War
Sent to Sicily with no army, regrouped the Carthagian mercenaries and began to force Roman army off the island
Cathage’s defeat at the Aegates Islands in 241 cut off his supplies, and he was ordered to negotiate a truce with Rome
Refused, and sent his duputy, Gesco instead
According to Polybius what was one of the most significant factors in the starting of the Second Punic War?
The Treaty of Lutatius
Where did Hamilcar create a new Carthagian colony?
Iberia (modern Spain)
What did Hannibal promise to his father?
That he would destroy Rome.
How did Hamilcar die?
Possibly from drowning.
What were Hannibal’s dates?
247 BC - 183/181 BC
Hannibal
- Carthagian General
- Considered one the the best militery leaders
- Led Carthagian army against Rome
Hasdrubal the Fair
- Carthagian General
- Succed Hamilcar in leading Spanish Campains
Sources on Hannibal
Polybius and Livy
Polybius
Lived through latter part of Punic Wars
Travelled extensively throughout Roman World
Believed good historians had travelled
Supported by Publis Scipio, son of Aemilius Paullus
Joined Sciopio Aemilianus in Spain, where he met Masinissa and other eye-witnesses
Favours aristocratic families and uses Hannibal’s invasion as a cautionary tale to his countrymen, the Greeks
Why could Hamiclar Barca not have revenge after the First Punic War
His hands were tied with the Truceless War
Carthagian war party
Polybius
Hamilcar Barca’s political supporters who wanted to reveive Carthage’s fortunes
Hamilcar Barca’s opponents
Not concerned with loss overseas
Made fortunes from expanding into Africa
Did Carthage probably control most of Iberia before the Punic Wars
Yes
Why did Hamilcar Barca take a mercenary army to Iberia
Polybius
To strengthen Iberia and ready it for war
Hamilcar in Iberia
- Probably more interested in empire building than revenge
- Established a military base on the site of the Phoenician colony of Gades, allowing him to expand into mainland Iberia
- Seized silver mines of Andalusia to fund his military
- established foundations of an empire that would provide Hannibal the means to attack Italy
Who was the main cause of the Second Punic War according to Fabius Pictor
Hasdrubal the Fair
Hasdrubal the Fair, according to Fabius Pictor
Gained power in Spain
Tried to establish a tyranny in Carthage, failled and travelled to Spain, where he created an empire
Taught Hannibal to hate the Romans
Hasdrubal the Fair and Hamilcar Barca
Hasdrubal followed Hamilcar to Spain, and helped him to expand his territores after the silver mines had been taken
Took over after Hamilcar’s death
Silver mines of Andulusia
Used to mint coins almost immediately for the mercenary armies of Hamilcar and Hasdrubal, and the allies they made
Hasdrubal the Fair in Spain
Had an army of 50,000
Wanted to make sure Carthage’s control of Iberia would be permanent
More approachable than Hamilcar
Paid troops well
Married a local princess
Founded a new capital, New Carthage in 228
Colonised south Iberia
Rome’s reaction to Hasdrubal’s empire
Found it more distressing than Hamilcar’s raids on Iberian countryside
Negotiated the Traty of Ebro in 226 BC with Hasdrubal – same time as Rome developed a relationship with Saguntum
Treaty of Ebro
226
Hasdrubal agreed that if Rome did not interfere he would limit his expansion to the south banks of the River Ebro
Demise of Hasdrubal the Fair
Killed by a Gallic assassin in 221 as revenge for crucifying his master
Achievements of Hasdrubal the Fair
Used his prefrence diplomacy to war to strengthen Carthage’s conrtol of southern Spain.
Secured Rome’s consent for the extension of the Carthagian Empire
Founded New Carthage
How old was Hannibal when he took over the army in Iberia
26
According to tradition who was the most influential on Hannibal
his father
How old was Hannibal wen he joined his father in Iberia
9
What did Hannibal witness in Iberia that made him into a great general
His father’s speeches, tactics. and the lows and highs of war. He was educated on the battlefield
What does Livy believe Hamilcar would have done if he lived long enough
He would have invaded Rom
What was, according to Fabius Pictor and Polybius, the reason for Hannibal’s war with Rome
the ‘Wrath of Hamilcar’
Three reasonsHannibal wanted to invade Rome (Polybius)
- His father made him vow to seek revenge
- He, like many Carthagians, was angered by Roman seizure of Sardinia
- He was encouraged by Carthage’s success in Iberia, to invade Italy
Another theory of Hannibal’s reason to attack Rome
Ambtion
* Hasdrubal had created a stable government that Hannibal could take advantage of
* Hannibal had an experienced army who shared his amitions
Hannibal’s question after Saguntum
Whether he should attack Rome
His army mostly agreed to
Hannibal’s attack on Italy as defencive
Rome saw the siege of Saguntum as an opportunity to declare war
Rome was fearful of Carthage’s recovery and saw the attack as an opportunity to crush Carthage while it had a young and inexperienced general in charge of its Iberian army
If true, then marching over the Pyrenees and the Alps could have been designed to protect Africa and Iberia from Roman invasion
