Rome and the Punic wars Flashcards
Mountain ranges helped protect Roman cities from _________and could be used for defense against attacks.
invasion
Roman cities were often built on_________ for better defense.
It was easy to see armies advancing.
• It was difficult for enemies to climb the mountains.
hills
______remained the basis of the Roman economy.
• Large plains made farming easy.
• The main crops of Roman farmers were various grains, olives, and grapes.
• They produced extra olives and olive oil for trade, which boosted the economy
Farming
Rome’s inland location protected it from invasion.
It also meant that the Romans needed_____ .
• Built _______ to areas they conquered
• Made the movement of soldiers and trade items easier and faster
• Made Rome a center for trade
roads
The Mediterranean Sea and the Tiber River were important to Rome’s ______.
• The sea allowed the fishing industry and trade to thrive.
• The Tiber River provided easy access to the Mediterranean Sea.
• The military could travel by sea.
expansion
Carthage was a dominant power in the ancient world. • Carthage was the largest and richest city in the western Mediterranean.
• It was a Phoenician colony.
• It was located on the north coast of Africa.
Carthage and Rome were headed for ______.
conflict
The Punic Wars were a series of 3 long wars between Rome and Carthage.
• The wars lasted from 264 BCE to 146 BCE.
• Punic comes from the Latin word for Phoenician.
_______ won all three of the wars and greatly expanded its territory.
Carthage was challenging Rome by expanding nearby and feuding over the sea
Rome
The First Punic War was fought from 264 BCE to — BCE. • Rome and Carthage both wanted control of Sicily.
• The war started when the Romans sent an army to Sicily.
• During the war, the Romans built a Navy and defeated the Carthaginians. Sicily and parts of the Mediterranean Sea came under Roman rule.
*keep in mind Sicily was already part of the Phoenician civilization as there were already colonies there
241
The Second Punic War between Rome and Carthage started over control of ______.
• Spain is on the European mainland, across the Mediterranean Sea from Africa.
• Carthage had expanded its territories into Spain to make up for its loss of Sicily.
• Rome helped the people of Spain rebel against Carthage.
In 218 BCE, Carthage sent its greatest general, Hannibal, to attack Rome.
Spain
(247–183 BCE)
• Was taught to fight at an early age
• Commanded the Carthaginian army at 25
• led the attack against Rome in the Second Punic War
• Amassed a huge army, including elephants, and crossed the Alps into Italy
• Defended Carthage against Rome
Hannibal Barca
(236–183 BCE)
- Was born into a wealthy family, and his father was a Roman consul
- Volunteered to face Carthage
- Defeated the Carthaginians at Zama and forced Hannibal to surrender
- Was given the name Africanus as an honor after his defeat of Carthage
- Was one of the world’s greatest military commanders
Scipio Africanus
Rome wanted to make Carthage a Roman province.
• Carthage was still a major trading center. • Rome wanted to control Carthage because trade was important to Rome’s growth.
In 149 BCE, Rome declared war on Carthage.
causes of the third Punic war
In 146 BCE, Rome defeated Carthage. • The Roman army burned the city to the ground. • They enslaved 50,000 men, women, and children.
the third Punic war
- Rome became the dominant power in the Mediterranean region.
- Conquered peoples had to provide soldiers to the Roman army and pay taxes.
- The city of Carthage was uninhabited for over a century since Rome only controlled a portion of it
Effects of the Punic wars
The Roman Republic continued to expand across Europe and the Mediterranean region.
• By 264 BCE, all of the Italian Peninsula was under Roman control.
• Rome then conquered areas in the western Mediterranean.
• By 146 BCE, Rome ruled islands, Carthage, and parts of North Africa.
Roman expansion across the Mediterranean Region
