Carthage vs. Rome. Powerful city Founded 8 th century BCE Phoenician city “Punic” is Latin...
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Transcript of Carthage vs. Rome. Powerful city Founded 8 th century BCE Phoenician city “Punic” is Latin...
Carthage
Powerful city Founded 8th century BCE Phoenician city
“Punic” is Latin for Phoenician Commercial empire
Harbor Sailing and trading Controlled trade in western Mediterranean
Major rival of Rome
Carthage
Navy Very large Phoenician sailing tradition
Army Mercenaries
Government Oligarchy
Wealthy elites rich through trade
Punic Wars
First Punic War (264-241 BCE) Fought over Sicily Rome won
Second Punic War (218-201 BCE) R challenged C expansion in Iberia (Spain) Rome won
Third Punic War (149-146 BCE) R feared C was becoming a threat again R attacked C and obliterated them Salt in the soil
First Punic War (264-241 BCE)
Roman solution Build up its navy Four fleets, each destroyed
Rome’s new weapon Grappling hook
Pull ships together Hand-to-hand fighting Armies on water!
Rome won Sicily becomes province of Rome
Intermission
Rome Controlled Corsica and Sardinia Conquered the Gauls (France)
Carthage Recovered from its defeat by Rome Started expanding in Iberia
Second Punic War (218-201 BCE)
Carthage: General Hannibal Led 60,000 men and dozens of elephants to
Italy Fought in Italy for 15 years
Second Punic War (218-201 BCE)
Battle of Cannae (216 BCE) 80,000 Romans 40,000 Carthaginians C won with superior tactics
Second Punic War (218-201 BCE)
Battle of Metaurus (207 BCE) Pivotal battle of war Hasdrubal (Hannibal’s brother) was bringing
supplies for siege of Rome Consul Gaius Claudius Nero
Forced march from southern Italy Reinforced Consul Marcus Livius
C were outnumbered, Hasdrubal defeated Nero beheaded Hasdrubal, threw into
Hannibal’s camp
Second Punic War (218-201 BCE)
Hannibal could not capture Rome Rome: General Scipio
Led army against C in Iberia Then led army into Carthage Finally, returned to defend Rome
Battle of Zama (202 BCE) Hannibal’s first and only defeat H escaped and fled to Carthage
C lost its fleet, Iberia, and much of North Africa
Second Intermission
Carthage Rebuilt trading networks and commercial
power Rome
Felt threatened by competition from C Senator Cato: “Carthago delenda est!”
(“Carthage must be destroyed!”)
Third Punic War (149-146 BCE)
R made ridiculous demands of C: 300 noble children as hostages Destroy city of Carthage and rebuild away
from coast Carthage refused
Had no mercenaries Forced to defend their own city
Rome laid siege to Carthage Siege was successful Burned C to the ground, salt in the soil Men killed, women and children made slaves
Results of Punic Wars
Rome and Carthage were “superpowers” Rome was only remaining superpower Easier for Rome to conquer rest of
Mediterranean Roman control of Macedonia Conquered remnants of Alexander’s
empire Fighting among Greek city-states
Rome took over, ended Greek independence (146 BCE)
Provincial Governments
Conquered areas became Roman provinces
Proconsuls Governed each province Members of patrician class Often corrupt
Publicans Tax collectors Auctioned for job to become publican Squeezed as much money from conquered as
possible
Wealth of Rome
Money (taxes and war booty) and cheap goods flooded Rome Africa and Sicily – wheat Spain – silver and tine East – gems and luxury goods
Upper classes grew wealthier Lots of money for merchants and traders
Government had more money than ever Whoever controlled govt. controlled money Struggle for control of govt.
Old Roman Values Diminish
Roman army Originally volunteers “Professional” army lacked fighting spirit
Moral and values Corruption
replaced dedication to public service (duty) Luxury
Replaced hard work, patriotism, simplicity
Roman Expansion
Pros Wealth
Trade Taxes
Power Control of Mediterranean
Cons Difficult to maintain an empire Wealth created new social classes
Slavery Problems led to end of republic, rise of empire
Rich get richer…
Money from govt. contracts High-interest loans Bribes and graft in provinces Farms operated by slaves
Poor farmers could not compete Wealthy class bought up lands of poor farmers Poor farmers flooded into Rome
Right to vote Unemployed masses supported politicians
who offered them “bread and circuses”