Jonathan Mamon
History Red
Mr. Albritton
4/6/09
THE PUNIC WARS
The Punic wars were fought between Rome and Carthage (present day North Africa). The three
Punic wars were started because Carthage and Rome both wanted Sicily. Sicily is a peninsula attached to
Italy (property of Rome). Since both wanted Sicily, the argument developed into a war that lasted from
264 BCE to 146 BCE. Although Carthage did not win the Punic wars, the real battle was the brains behind
it all. Using your opponent’s strengths and weakness, risky strategies, and the elements of surprise, the
long battles between Rome and Carthage is one to study forever.
After Carthage lost the first Punic War, Carthage was upset. Carthage hired Hannibal Barca, their
new General. When Rome heard this news, they took action with thinking that Hannibal would do a
water attack because Carthage had such a good navy. Hannibal, using the Element of Surprise, took his
troops east on land. The Carthaginian army voyaged through Spain and then to Italy, attacking the
Romans from behind. Hannibal also used elephants to help kill soldiers and give archers a good view of
the battle. Hannibal used many risky strategies in battle that seemed to work.
The Carthaginian troops were in Italy for many years. While they were in Italy, they fought the
Battle of Cannae. Hannibal used another risky strategy at this battle. This battle is also called the “Ring
of Steel” because that is what Hannibal used to defeat the Romans. Because the Carthaginians were
extremely outnumbered, Hannibal basically made his troops circle around the Roman troops. This is
because the Roman Troops were in a “Phalanx” formation, and the people in the middle could not
attack, so this evened out the playing field. The Carthaginian army killed about 80,000 Romans in the
battle. “It was the worst defeat in roman history; Rome’s Prestige was shattered, and many of its allies
went to Hannibal” (Textbook).
Soon after the battle of Cannae, The Carthaginian government wanted their troops to pull back.
While this is happening, the Romans appointed Publius Cornelius Scipio later called Scipio Africanus.
Hannibal’s troops had returned back to Carthage. Scipio Africanus was in Italy training and preparing his
troops to invade Zama, a city in Carthage. The Romans eventually do attack Zama, and leave them
hanging by a thread. This is how the Roman General, Publius Cornelius Scipio got the name Africanus,
for greatly defeating the Great Hannibal in Carthage. Hannibal, during this event, fled into exile.
Hannibal ultimately committed suicide because he did not want to be captured by roman troops. The
roman troops defeating the Carthaginians made the romans win the 2nd Punic war.