Second, Third Punic Wars
Roman Conquest of Spain
- 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
- 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
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
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