Name: _______________________________________________________ Period: __________ Date: _______________
The Punic Wars
Learning Target: I can explain how Rome became so successful (History Standard 1).
Directions: Read the paragraph below and then answer the questions on the back of this sheet. In the
paragraph, underline or highlight each of the answers for questions 1-9 and put the appropriate number
above the answer.
During the time of the early Roman Republic, the western part of the Mediterranean Sea was ruled by
the people of the city-state of Carthage. It was a wealthy city with a powerful navy located on the coast of
Northern Africa. They were not very happy when the city of Rome began to conquer the area of Italy and
Sicily. The Carthaginians and Romans fought for years and years in a series of wars called the Punic Wars.
At first, the Carthaginians had the upper hand because of their navy. Rome did not have any ships.
Then, a ship from Carthage’s navy wrecked on the coast of Italy. The Romans took the ship apart and figured
out how to build their own ships. Still, both sides were well trained and fierce fighters and neither one was
winning. Tired of the stalemate, a general name Hannibal took and army with 40 specially trained elephants
over the Pyrenees Mountains and the Alps north of Italy and attacked by land. The Romans had never seen
elephants before; much less ones that had been trained to flap their ears, shake their heads, and in general be
as big and frightening as possible. The Romans fled and Hannibal began to burn and destroyed Italy. While he
was busy destroying Italy, the Romans sailed to Carthage and burned it down. When Carthage fell, the war
was over. Rome had won.
Because the Romans had won the Punic Wars, they became the dominant power in the
Mediterranean. Soon, the Romans conquered all of Greece and the lands Alexander the Great had taken over.
However, in a way, it was the Greeks that conquered the Romans because the Romans came into contact with
Greek culture and were won over. Greek literature, art, and architecture soon began to influence Roman
culture. Roman artists began to copy Greek sculptures. Roman authors began imitating Greek authors, and
Roman students began studying Greek literature and philosophy in school.
Skill: Reading Comprehension
1. Where was Carthage located? _______________________________________________________________________
2. Why did the Carthaginians get mad at the Romans? ______________________________________________________
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3. In the beginning of the war, why was Rome at a disadvantage? _____________________________________________
4. What was the name of the general the led the Carthaginians? ______________________________________________
5. Which two mountain ranges did Hannibal cross? ________________________________________________________
6. Locate the two mountain ranges on your map and label them with the symbol for mountains (^^^^^^^)
7. Why were Hannibal’s war elephants so effective? _______________________________________________________
8. Who won the Punic Wars? __________________________________________________________________________
9. Answer the following question using complete sentences. Even though the Romans conquered Greece, how did the
Greeks conquer the Romans? Please provide three examples. ________________________________________________
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Skill: Using the map key
10. Locate the city of Carthage on your map and circle it
11. Hannibal was called back to Carthage to help after Rome attacked it; from what Italian port did he leave? _________
12. In what year does it seem the last battle was fought? Where did it happen? _________________________________
13. Of the battles on the map, which was the first fought? __________________________________________________
Skill: Physical Features
14. Italy is surrounded by which two seas? _______________________________________________________________
15. Which island town is southwest of Croton?____________________________________________________________
16. Which river is north of the Alps? ____________________________________________________________________
Skill: Latitude and Longitude
17. Which battle took place at approximately 45⁰N and 9⁰E? ________________________________________________
18. Which battle took place at approximately 38⁰N and 6⁰W? ________________________________________________
19. What is the approximate latitude and longitude for the city of Rome? ______________________________________
*Challenge Question (advanced): Why do you think the Carthaginians wanted to hold on to Spain; why was it so
valuable?