One of the most prominent classical influences on the Phoenician empire was the Punic Wars. These wars were a conflict between the Phoenician colony of Carthage and Rome fought between the years 264 BCE and 146 BCE. Carthage became the leading Phoenician city once Tyre fell. Like in Greece, politicians were elected, but Carthaginian politics did not operate in quite the same way Greek politics did. A council and judges helped oversee the city-state and keep things in order. Additionally, military commanders were public posts elected separately from the other two leading positions.
When it first came to power, Carthage grew stronger and wealthier rapidly. Before long, it was the wealthiest city in the Mediterranean area. The citizens even lived lavish lives and even filled their homes with Greek sculptures. The Carthaginians decided to expand their empire, and it was this expansion that drew them into their first skirmish with Rome. The first Punic War took place over the control of Sicily. At this point in time, 264 BCE, Rome was a weak trade city by the Tiber River and posed no threat to Carthage. Tensions were high as Sicily lay partly under Carthaginian control and partly under Roman control. When Syracuse fought the Mamertines of Messina, they asked the Carthaginians for help. They then asked Rome for help. Once the Carthaginians found out about the Mamertines’ appeal to Rome, the Carthaginians were so enraged that they immediately sent forced to Syracuse and declared war on Rome.
The Romans did not have a navy and did not have much knowledge of sea battles, but they quickly built 330 ships. Since the Romans were used to fighting land battles, they created a corvus, a plank which connected their ships to the enemies’ ships and, therefore, turning sea battles into land battles. The Carthaginians’ weapon was the war general Hamilcar. He was known for his speed and suddenness when attacking. However, the Carthaginians did not supply their army. Instead they hoarded their wealth, and Rome won the war. In 226 BCE, the two groups signed the Ebro Treaty, which stated the Romans would hold the area north of the Ebro River, and Carthage would control the area they had already conquered. Neither nation was to trespass into the other’s territory.
Unfortunately, the peace did not last. In 219 BCE, Hannibal, a Carthaginian general, attacked the Roman allied city Saguntum in order to overtake it. Rome was furious and demanded Hannibal be released to them; when Carthage refused, the Second Punic War was launched. Hannibal got word the Romans were moving toward his troops, and he marched over the Alps into Northern Italy. Here, he gained many victories for Carthage. He won every single encounter with the Romans, conquered much of northern Italy, and won over former Roman allies to the Carthaginian cause. He did, however, lose many of his elephants and supplies on the trip over the mountains. The Roman general Fabius moved to starve out the Carthaginians. Hannibal spread the rumor that Fabius was too scared to fight with the Carthaginians face to face. This threat brought on the Battle of Cannae in 216 BCE. This battle was Hannibal’s greatest victory; Six thousand of his troops died compared to 44,000 Roman men.
After this battle, the Roman general Scipio took control of the troops. He defeated Carthage at the Battle of Zama in 202 BCE. The Carthaginians sent a charge of elephants, but Scipio merely killed the soldiers atop the animals then deflected the attack. The Carthaginians were permitted to keep the existing colonies in Northern Africa, but Rome demanded they pay a debt of 200 talents every year for fifty years.
The final Punic War took place from 149 BCE to 146 BCE. The city had peacefully paid its debt, but Carthage went to war with Nubia without Rome’s permission. The city was once again considered a “threat to peace.” The Romans sent an embassy to Carthage suggesting they move their city farther inland from the coast. When Carthage refused, the Third Punic War began. Scipio besieged the city for three years until it fell.
When it first came to power, Carthage grew stronger and wealthier rapidly. Before long, it was the wealthiest city in the Mediterranean area. The citizens even lived lavish lives and even filled their homes with Greek sculptures. The Carthaginians decided to expand their empire, and it was this expansion that drew them into their first skirmish with Rome. The first Punic War took place over the control of Sicily. At this point in time, 264 BCE, Rome was a weak trade city by the Tiber River and posed no threat to Carthage. Tensions were high as Sicily lay partly under Carthaginian control and partly under Roman control. When Syracuse fought the Mamertines of Messina, they asked the Carthaginians for help. They then asked Rome for help. Once the Carthaginians found out about the Mamertines’ appeal to Rome, the Carthaginians were so enraged that they immediately sent forced to Syracuse and declared war on Rome.
The Romans did not have a navy and did not have much knowledge of sea battles, but they quickly built 330 ships. Since the Romans were used to fighting land battles, they created a corvus, a plank which connected their ships to the enemies’ ships and, therefore, turning sea battles into land battles. The Carthaginians’ weapon was the war general Hamilcar. He was known for his speed and suddenness when attacking. However, the Carthaginians did not supply their army. Instead they hoarded their wealth, and Rome won the war. In 226 BCE, the two groups signed the Ebro Treaty, which stated the Romans would hold the area north of the Ebro River, and Carthage would control the area they had already conquered. Neither nation was to trespass into the other’s territory.
Unfortunately, the peace did not last. In 219 BCE, Hannibal, a Carthaginian general, attacked the Roman allied city Saguntum in order to overtake it. Rome was furious and demanded Hannibal be released to them; when Carthage refused, the Second Punic War was launched. Hannibal got word the Romans were moving toward his troops, and he marched over the Alps into Northern Italy. Here, he gained many victories for Carthage. He won every single encounter with the Romans, conquered much of northern Italy, and won over former Roman allies to the Carthaginian cause. He did, however, lose many of his elephants and supplies on the trip over the mountains. The Roman general Fabius moved to starve out the Carthaginians. Hannibal spread the rumor that Fabius was too scared to fight with the Carthaginians face to face. This threat brought on the Battle of Cannae in 216 BCE. This battle was Hannibal’s greatest victory; Six thousand of his troops died compared to 44,000 Roman men.
After this battle, the Roman general Scipio took control of the troops. He defeated Carthage at the Battle of Zama in 202 BCE. The Carthaginians sent a charge of elephants, but Scipio merely killed the soldiers atop the animals then deflected the attack. The Carthaginians were permitted to keep the existing colonies in Northern Africa, but Rome demanded they pay a debt of 200 talents every year for fifty years.
The final Punic War took place from 149 BCE to 146 BCE. The city had peacefully paid its debt, but Carthage went to war with Nubia without Rome’s permission. The city was once again considered a “threat to peace.” The Romans sent an embassy to Carthage suggesting they move their city farther inland from the coast. When Carthage refused, the Third Punic War began. Scipio besieged the city for three years until it fell.