The Punic Wars
Rome vs. Carthage
Western Civilization
Republic to Expansion
Essential Question:
Why was Rome able to conquer
Carthage and then go on to
extend its influence across the
entire Mediterranean basin and
much of Western Europe?
The Roman Military
• Romans placed a great value on their military.
• All landowning citizens were required to serve in the
military.
• Some political positions required 10 years of military
service.
• Roman soldiers were organized into large military units
as legions.
• Soldiers were known as legionaries.
• They built roads for soldiers and trade, which unified
the Roman people.
Roman Army (extended)
• One of best armies of all time
• Victorious against many formidable opponents
• Army was a both a duty & distinguishing mark of Roman
citizenship
• Army changed drastically over time
• Originally only citizens that could afford equipment
• Fought in phalanx during monarchy
Republican Legions - units
•
•
•
•
Equites (cavalry)
Velites (light infantry)
Heavy infantry
Auxilia (auxiliary troops and specialist)
• Brutal discipline
Reforms
• End of the 2nd century BCE
• Created professional standing armies
• Employed poorer classes
• Loyalty of the soldiers in the hands of their general
Factors in Legion’s Success
• Military organization was more flexible than those of many
opponents
• Roman discipline, organization & systemization sustained
combat effectiveness over a longer period
• Roman military and civic culture gave the military consistent
motivation and cohesion
• Romans were more persistent and more willing to absorb and
replace losses over time than their opponents
• Roman Engineering skills were second to none
• Offensive and defensive siege warfare
• Construction and investiture of fortifications
• Roman military equipment
• Soldiers equipped with heavy shields, helmets and highly
effective body armor
• The 1st Punic War (264-241 B.C.E.)
• Carthage was seeking to expand into Sicily
where the Romans were already dominant
• Both fought for control of the Mediterranean Sea
and the surrounding land.
• Carthage had a strong navy, while Roman had a
strong army
(Doesn’t this sound familiar? What other war
have we talked about where the rivals also had
these differences?)
• Outcome? Rome built a strong navy. Rome
controls Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily.
The 2nd Punic War (218-201 B.C.E)
Hannibal from Carthage…
• Wanted to defeat
Rome for the death of
his father
• Fought on Roman land,
but…
• (he crossed over the
Alps using war
elephants)
• Was too weak to take
over Rome
• The 2nd Punic War (con’t.)
• Tide turned Rome’s
favor when brilliant
general, Publius
Cornelius Scipio when
he invaded North
Africa.
• This forced Hannibal
to come back and
defend Carthage
• Outcome? Hannibal
was defeated and
surrendered Spain to
Rome.
• The 3rd Punic War (146-149 B.C.E.)
The Romans…
• Burned Carthage to the ground, and razed
the city over
• Plowed salt into Carthage’s farms so that
they would not grow crops anymore
• Massacred Carthaginian people or sold
them into slavery.
• Sent message to others: DON’ T MESS WITH
ROME.
• Outcome? Carthage became a Roman
province.
• After the Punic Wars…
• Rome was able , over the next 100 years, to
dominate the Mediterranean basin, leading
to much cultural diffusion of Roman culture.
• Roman culture will spread around the
Mediterranean Basin (Africa, Asia, Europe,
including the Hellenistic world of Eastern
Mediterranean) and Western Europe (Gaul,
Spain, the British Isles – present day
England and Ireland)
• Effects of Expansion
• After the Punic Wars, Roman territory
extended from Spain to Greece
• Conquerors brought back wealth, slaves
• Bought large estates
• Many small farmers couldn’t compete
• Lost their farms
• Poverty and unemployment increased
• Gap increased between rich and poor
• Anger and tension grew between classes
Roman Expansion (con’t.)
• Farmers and
soldiers received
conquered lands.
• Spread Roman
culture and Latin
language.
II. Roman Expansion
• Review Questions:
• Why was Rome able to conquer
Carthage?
• How did Rome go on to extend its
influence across the entire
Mediterranean basin and much of
Western Europe?
Do NOT complete the following
activity…
Activity – Punic Wars Magazine Cover
• Directions: Using the information on the Punic
Wars from your notes and text, design a
magazine cover featuring the Punic Wars.
Your cover must have a title, at least one
picture, 5 subtitles, and a date. In addition,
you must type up an explanation of your
subtitles informing me as their correlation with
the Punic Wars. I encourage you to use the
computer, but you can also draw the cover.
You must also include color. Attach the
assignment sheet to your magazine cover.
• This assignment is worth 50 POINTS.
Points
1. Creative magazine title and date – 5
pts.
2. Cover picture – 5 pts.
3. Color, creativity, and effort – 5 pts.
4. 5 subtitles – 15 pts.
5. Explanation of sub-titles – 20 pts.
Total Points – 50 pts.
• Activity – Punic Wars Magazine
• Directions: Using the information on the Punic Wars
from your notes and text, create a magazine featuring
events from the Punic Wars. Your cover must have a
title, at least one picture, 5 subtitles, and a date. Your
magazine must also have a table of contents. The
body of your magazine should consist of at least 5
articles that relate to your subtitles. These articles
should demonstrate your understanding of the Punic
Wars and the impact the wars had on Roman
expansion. I strongly encourage you to use the
computer, but you may also draw the cover. Your
magazine should be colorful and visually appealing.
Attach the assignment sheet as the last page of your
magazine.
• This assignment is worth 100 POINTS.
Points
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Creative magazine title and date – 5 pts.
Cover Picture – 5 pts.
Table of Contents – 5 pts.
Color, creativity, and effort – 10 pts.
5 subtitles – 25 pts.
Articles – 50 points (10 pts. Each)
Total Points - 100
• Examples…
• Look at various magazines such as Rolling Stone, Teen
People, Sports Illustrated, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Time,
Newsweek, etc. for ideas on titles and sub-titles.
• Here are some examples from the latest Vanity Fair magazine
(issue – April ’09)
– How Iceland went PFFFT! Could it happen here?
– The Hedge Fund Time Bomb
– Is it Time to Rethink the American Dream?
– Exclusive! Mark Seal: Bernie Madoff’s Secrets
– Brother, Can you spare a laugh? Featuring Jonah Hill, Seth
Rogan, Jason Segel, and Paul Rudd with Amy Poehler,
Anna Faris, Bill Hader, and More!
– Plus! Pirates of the 21st Century! Anatomy of a High Seas
Hijacking
Example of Magazine Cover