U4 AOS1 - The Punic Wars (264 - 146 BCE) Flashcards
When was the First Punic War?
264 - 241 BCE
What did Rome gain after the First Punic War? (264 - 241 BCE)
- Rome gained a navy, and by extent full naval superiority over the Mediterranean.
- Rome gained new provinces: Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia.
What did Carthage lose after the First Punic War? (264 -241 BCE)
- Carthage lost Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia.
- Carthage lost their naval superiority over the Mediterranean.
- 3200 talents of silver in compensation
What did Rome do in their down-time between the First and Second Punic Wars?
They finished conquering all of north Italy south of the Alps from the Gauls.
“no Gallic army ever crossed the Apennine Mountains again.” (Scullard)
What did Carthage do in their down-time between the First and Second Punic Wars?
Hamilcar Barca (275 - 229 BCE) and Hasdrubal Barca reasserted Carthaginian authority in Spain, building the city of New Carthage and extracted valuable resources from Spain.
“the silver mines alone produced 2000-3000 talents every year” (Sinnigen and Boak)
But most importantly Hannibal Barca (247 - 183/181 BCE) was raised.
“Hannibal is the man for whom Africa was too small a continent.” (Juvenal)
When was the Second Punic War?
218 - 201 BCE
When were the notable battles during the beginning of the Second Punic War?
Siege of Saguntum - 219 BCE (started the war)
Battle of Trebia - 218 BCE (first battle of the war - Carthage victory)
Battle of Lake Trasimene - 217 BCE (Major victory for Hannibal)
Battle of Cannae - 216 BCE (utter destruction of Rome’s military)
“one in every seven Italian men of fighting age alive in August 218 was dead by August 216.” (Hoyos)
Why was the Battle of Cannae (216 BCE) so significant according to Livy?
“How much more serious was the defeat at Cannae than those which had preceded it can be seen by the behaviour of Rome’s allies: Before that fatal day their loyalty had remained unshaken; now it began to waver, for the simple reason that they despaired of the survival of Roman power…” (Livy)
TLDR: “Before that fatal day their [the Italian allies] loyalty remained unshaken; not it began to waver.”
What was the battle that concluded the Second Punic War?
The Battle of Zama (202 BCE)
Hannibal (247 - 183/181 BCE) versus Scipio Africanus (236 - 183 BCE)
“In a slogging match, Rome could simply outslog Carthage.” (John F. Lazenby)
What did Rome gain after the Second Punic War? (218 - 201 BCE)
- Spain; therefore a looooott of silver.
- Senatorial wealth and prestige. Wealthy senators bought up large amounts of abandoned farmland and land confiscated from Italian allies who had sided with Hannibal; latifundia.
- Rome no longer has a rival for supremacy in the western Mediterranean.
“The Romans - after defeating the Carthaginians in this war and considering themselves to have achieved the most decisive and greatest move towards mastery of the world - then first felt confident about stretching out their hands upon the rest of the world.
What did Carthage loose after the Second Punic War? (218 - 201 BCE)
- All their territory (bar except the city of Carthage itself)
- Their navy
- Their right to go to war (even in self-defence) without Roman permission.
- 10,000 talents of silver over 50 years
When was the Third Punic War?
149 - 146 BCE
What did Polybius say Scipio Aemilianus did after his destruction of Carthage?
“Scipio, seeing the city then utterly ending in complete and final destruction, is said to have wept and openly lamented for his enemies.” (Polybius)
What were the consequences of the Third Punic War? (149 - 146 BCE)
Carthage was destroyed, and their territory was turned into the province of Africa.
What were the two Greek provinces created in 146 BCE called?
Macedonia - Made up of modern day Albania and Macedonia,
Achaia - Made up of modern day Greece, created after the sack of Corinth, but some cities (such as Athens and Sparta) remained self-governing allies.
