Punic Wars

• P. Scipio cos. 218 decides to avoid Hannibal, take army to Spain
• Establishes permanent Roman presence in Spain
• Defeated, killed in 211
• P. Cornelius Scipio elected to take over as commander in Spain
  • Son of P. Scipio cos. 218
• Scipio undermines Carthaginians
  • Shows himself to be equal to Hannibal as general
• Hannibal's brother takes army from Spain to Italy
  • Defeated in Italy, 207
  • No relief for Hannibal

Roman Invasion of Africa

• Scipio cos. 205 leads army to Africa in 204
• Carthaginians sue for peace, 203
• Hannibal returns to Carthage, causes renewal of war
• Zama, 202
  • Scipio defeats Hannibal
• Carthage surrenders
  • Gives up all overseas territories
  • Pays huge indemnity over 50 years
  • Prohibited from building a new fleet
  • Subordinate to Rome
• Scipio receives title Africanus
  • "victor over Africa"

Third Punic War

• Romans very hostile to Carthaginians during 50 years of Carthaginian tribute paying
  • Support Massinissa, king of Numidia
  • Much to Carthaginians' annoyance
• As end of 50 years' peace approaches, Roman desire for war clear
  • Cato the Elder
    • "Carthage must be destroyed" (ceterum censeo delendam esse Carthaginem)
• War declared in 149
  • Roman consuls order Carthaginians to abandon their city
  • They refuse
• Many Roman volunteers for war
  • Expectation of much plunder
• Desperate Carthaginians fight much more bitterly than expected
• Newly Raised Roman army not very efficient
  • Takes time to put new army in order
  • Commanders not too effective
• Scipio Aemilanus elected consul in 147
  • Grandson (by adoption) of Scipio Africanus
  • Not eligible yet for consulship
    • Too young
    • hasn't held necessary junior offices
    • Rioting among electorate until senate allows election of Scipio
      • Major dissatisfaction with handling of war
• Scipio restores order in demoralized Roman army
• Carthage captured in 146 after massive siege operations
  • Survivors enslaved
  • City raised to ground