Punic Wars

Carthaginians

• Punic=Phoenician (in Latin)
  • Phoenician=mod. Lebanon
  • Phoenicians speak lang. very close to anc. Hebrew
  • More interested in trade than agriculture
• Punics settled in w. Meditarranean from 800s on
• In 500s, Carthage assumes leadership of Punic trading communities in w. Mediterranean
• "Carthaginian" in broad sense=Punics in w. Med.
• Punic communities scattered along shores
  • N. Africa
  • Sardinia
  • W. Sicily
  • Spain
• Prolonged disputes with Greeks in Sicily
• First overseas opponents of Romans
  • Romans disliked them
  • Dislike caused by the wars?
• Treaties show trade relations b/w Rome and Carthage in early Republic
• Three Punic Wars

First Punic War

• 264-242
  • Right after Roman subjugation of Italy complete
• Romans intervene in Messana
  • Messana directly across straits from Italy in Sicily
• Hiero, Grk. tyrant of Syracuse quickly goes over to Romans
  • Syracuse main Grk. town in Sicily
• Romans first try to oust Carthaginians from Sicily
  • Hard slogging, much besieging
  • Romans use corvus to overcome Carthag. naval superiority
• Romans invade n. Africa in 256
  • Attempt to strike at heart of Carthaginian territory
  • Good idea, bad execution
  • Roman army forced to capitulate in 255
  • Regulus argues against exchange of prisoners
    • Argues Romans can absorb losses, Carthaginians can't
• Gales in late 250s, 249 destroy several Roman fleets
  • Massive losses
  • Losses made good, but each time takes longer
• Lull in 240s
  Both sides exhausted
• Romans attack w. Sicily with new fleet in 242
  • Carthaginians had put their fleet in "moth balls"
  • Raised a new fleet, not good enough
• Carthginians sue for peace
  • Forced to abandon Sicily
  • Large indemnity to be paid over ten years

Aftermath of First Punic War

• Revolt of Carthaginian mercenary army
  • Without major manpower resources, Carthags. employed foreign mercenaries
  • Couldn't pay them at end of war
• Roman bad faith
  • Force Carthags. to hand over Sardinia, pay more money
• Carthaginians embittered
  • Expand into interior of Spain to acquire manpower from native subjects
• Romans set up first overseas provinces
  • Two praetorships created to provide governors for Sicily, Sardinia (227)
  • Locals used to paying tribute to overlords
  • Local forces not incorporated into Roman army, as was done in conquest of Italy

Second Punic War

• Hannibal
  • One of greatest generals of antiquity
  • Belonged to one of leading families of Carthaginian oligarchy
  • Acted as long-term governor in Spain
  • Decides to provoke war with Rome
    • Realizes Roman superiority in manpower
    • Takes war to the Roman territory
    • Hopes to induce rebellion among Roman allies
    • Lays siege to town of Saguntum, Roman ally in Spain
• Hannibal's Campaign in Italy
  • Takes army to Italy
    Drags poor elephants over Alps
  • Major but not decisive victories over Romans in 218, 217
  • Fabian tactics
    • Recognition of Hannibal's superior generalship
    • Refusal to confront him directly
    • Shadowing Hannibal to keep him from causing too much trouble
  • Cannae
    • Fabian tactics abandoned
    • Massive Roman defeat at Cannae, 216
    • Hannibal can't take Rome
    • Limited revolts among s. Italian allies
    • Most allies stay loyal, esp. in central Italy
  • Return to Fabian tactics
    • Unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem
    • Hannibal never confronted again in Italy
    • Spends next decade trashing s. Italy
    • Never receives substantial reinforcements
  • Romans gradually subdue revolts in Italy, Sicily

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