Name: ___________________________
Date: _____________
The Punic Wars (Video)
Directions: While watching the movie entitled ‘Engineering an Empire: Carthage’, answer the
questions below as clearly and as completely as possible.
FIRST PUNIC WAR
1. What major piece of territory were Rome and Carthage fighting over in the First Punic War?
2. What Carthaginian commander seemingly helps to break the 17-year stalemate between
Rome and Carthage in the First Punic War?
3. What new piece of technology helped give the Carthaginians a naval edge during the First
Punic War? (You can describe the piece of technology or give the name!)
4. How were the Roman’s able to counter Carthage’s new naval technology?
5. In the naval battle of the Aegates Islands, what was one thing that allowed the Roman’s to so
thoroughly defeat the larger Carthaginian navy?
6. What did Rome gain in their victory over Carthage in the First Punic War? (Three main
islands!)
7. Where did the Carthaginians turn to next, to try and bring new wealth into their empire and
make up for the losses of the First Punic War?
8. Who took over command of the Carthaginian Army after the death of Hamilcar Barca?
SECOND PUNIC WAR
9. How did this new Carthaginian general get to Roman territory, specifically the Italian
Peninsula?
10. Approximately how big was the Carthaginian army when it left Spain on its journey east?
11. How did the Carthaginians get over the Rhone River in France?
12. What was the next but last major obstacle that the Carthaginian army had to overcome?
13. By the time Hannibal got to the Battle of Cannae, approximately how many men did he have
left to fight the Romans with?
14. How did Rome’s defeat at Cannae compare to all the battles they fought throughout their
history?
15. How long did Hannibal fight on the Italian Peninsula AND what finally forced him to
withdraw?
16. What happened to the Carthaginian army and Hannibal at the Battle of Zama in 202 B.C.E.?
17. What was a least ONE of the harsh peace terms that Rome imposed on Carthage at the end of
the Second Punic War?
THIRD PUNIC WAR
18. What event started the Third Punic War?
19. When Roman landed their immense army in North Africa, what obstacle did they now have
to overcome?
20. How did the Carthaginians respond to this new threat from Rome? (Give some detail or a
few examples.)
21. How long were the Carthaginians able to hold off the Roman onslaught?
22. Once the Romans broke into the city, how long did it take them to secure the entire city?
23. What finally happened to the city of Carthage at the end of the Third Punic War?