Punic Wars Research Paper

The Punic Wars The Punic Wars were three conflicts fought between the Romans and Carthaginians between 264 BC and 146 BC. While Carthage at the time was wealthier, Rome won all three of the wars because of their far superior military strength and strategy. At the end of the Punic Wars, Rome’s victories helped Rome to become a great superpower in the Mediterranean, and eventually helped them to control the Mediterranean world. The First Punic War occurred when Rome sent an army to Sicily. Carthage defended this island because they believed Sicily was rightfully theirs, and the Romans were threatening to overtake it. Carthage’s one advantage on Rome was their great navy. In order for Rome to be on equal footing with the Carthaginian navy,

Hannibal, one of the greatest generals of Carthage, decided the Romans had done enough and acted against them. Hannibal advanced his army into Rome. He crossed into Spain, and then he passed over the Alps. His army included forty six thousand men, thousands of horses, and thirty-seven battle elephants. Hannibal’s army did not fare well traversing the Alps, however. The harsh cold and the tribes native to the area killed many men, horses, and most of the elephants on the journey. The remainder of his army posed a serious threat to Rome. Rome, taking notice of the serious threat of the Hannibal led army, met them head on. Hannibal's forces overcame the Roman forces and destroyed them. Rome lost approximately forty thousand men to the weakened Carthaginian army. Rome was forced to cede land in Italy, and retreated back to recover. After recovering, the Romans began to reclaim some of their land that was ceded, and by 206 B.C Rome had forced Hannibal’s forces out of Italy. To get the Carthaginian forces out of there, Rome sent their army to invade Carthage. This forced Carthage’s hand, and made them pull their army from Italy to defend their own country. The forces of both Rome and Carthage met in the Battle of Zama in 202 BC. The Roman army was led by Scipio Africanus, and the Carthaginian army was led still by Hannibal. The Roman army destroyed their opponent and ended the war in 201 B.C. This