Rise of Rome through the Punic Wars. Based on the map above, who do you think would be Rome s main opponent?

Transcription

1 Rise of Rome through the Punic Wars Based on the map above, who do you think would be Rome s main opponent?

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3 753 BC: Rome begins as one of many city states on the Italian Peninsula. 509 BC: Roman Republic founded-era of kings is over 264 BC-146BC: The Punic Wars BC First Punic War-Rome defeats Carthage in a predomiantly naval war BC-Second Punic War-Rome loses most battles, yet Hannibal cannot conquer Rome itself BC-Third Punic War-Carthage is destroyed.

4 First Punic War Trade in the Mediterranean region was dominated by two groups-ptolemies in Egypt and Carthage in N. Africa Like Rome, Carthage was located at the midpoint of the Mediterranean 264 BC, Rome and Carthage go to war over control of Sicily and the western Mediterranean. The Punic Wars-from the Latin word for Phoenicia

5 Comparison Carthage Population of 250,000 (3x that of Rome). Massive Navy-500 Ships Very Wealthy through tariffs and tribute Employed mercenaries from Numidia Power lay in their ability to trade Rome Population of 80,000 No Navy Strong land army Reserve of 500,000 troops from allies Loyal to Rome (as opposed to mercanaries) Warfare was a Roman specialty

6 Rome hastily built 140 ships based on Carthaginian design but added a gangplank Gangplank was a board with an iron hook used to board enemy ships. Once the gangplank was firmly attached to the enemy ship, the Roman soldiers would rush aboard. They basically turned the sea battle into a land battle where the Roman could rely on their superior infantry.

7 The First Punic War lasted for 23 years before Carthage s fleet was destroyed. This marked the end of Carthage as a sea power and gave Rome the island of Sicily

8 Second Punic War Cannae, 261 BC Pages The most famous caldron battle ever fought and the model that commanders have tried to copy took place during the Second Punic War. Hannibal defeated a larger Roman Army at Cannae in southern Italy in 216 BC. Success depended on the genius of Hannibal but also on the fact the opposing general Terentius Varro did not examine the situation before the battle. Had Varro listened to wiser voices (Fabius), his army of 80,000 may not have been destroyed.

9 Second Punic War ( BC) Carthage was a commercial state founded by the Phoenicians and located in present day Tunisia Hannibal launched his invasion of Rome from Spain, marching overland through Gaul, across the Alps, and into northern Italy in 218 BC.

10 Hannibal s strength was in his cavalry while the Romans emphasized foot soldiers and used cavalry sparingly to protect the flanks of their legions. Carthaginians were North African tribesmen who honed their riding skills managing their herds. Hannibal defeated the Romans on the Ticunus River, then the Trebbia River, and advanced through the impassable swamps of the Arnus River to surprise the Rman army guarding the main road at Arretium. The Romans chased Hannibal and were destroyed at Lake Trasimene. Hannibal moved into southern Italy, bypassing a siege of Rome as it would require a larger army than he commanded and would leave supply lines vulnerable.

11 Hannibal relied on his strengths-fast movement, superior cavalry, and his generalship-to try to break Rome s bonds with its Italian allies. Rome appointed Quintus Fabius Maximus as dictator for six months. Fabius realizes he could not defeat Hannibal in open battle and that Hannibal must not secure alliances with the southern Italian city states as this would provide a secure base of operations.» Fabius knows he must prevent defection of the southern states.» Fabius will rely on guerilla tactics to weaken Hannibal. However, this strategy went against the Roman tradition of offensive warfare and refused to renew Fabius generalship.

12 Rome appoints two consuls-terentius Varro and Aemilius Paulus. Varro and Paulus would alternate command of the massive army (80,000 infantry and 7,000 cavalry) As the Romans approached Hannibal near Cannae, Paulus wanted to maneuver for a favorable opportunity but Varro used his day of command to advance directly at Hannibal

13 August 2, 216 BC Battle of Cannae» Hannibal pushed his least dependable Gaul and Spanish troops ahead in the center while putting his best African troop on the sides. He applied a convex formation

14 » Varro sensed weakness in this position and drove into it with the whole of his army» The center of Hannibal s lines fell back as he had planned, the Romans sensed victory and pushed forward.» Hannibal gave the order and the African infantry swung inward to double envelope the Roman Army» Meanwhile, Hannibal s cavalry broke through the weaker Roman cavalry and swept around to the rear of the Roman legions, enveloped on 3 side by the infantry.» The Carthaginians pushed the Romans into to center which was packed so tightly that the Roman soldiers could not swing their swords.» The battle turned into a massacre.

15 »70,000 Romans died while Hannibal lost around 6,000 men.»it was the perfect caldron battle where Hannibal was able to draw in the Romans and then swing his flanks around the sides. Then, he sealed off the roman retreat with his cavalry.

16 Fabian relied on small scale guerilla actions which became known as the Fabian strategy. Hannibal was obligated to stay on the defensive from these attacks and could not establish alliances with the cities» Therefore he had no means of procuring food and supplies, no base to launch attacks, and nowhere to retire after his campaigns. After 16 years of inconsequential operations, Hannibal was called back to Carthage to defend it from an invasion by another Roman, Scipio Africanus. In the end, Scipio was able to defeat Hannibal and the Carthaginians at the battle of Zama in 202 BC

17 BC-Second Punic War-Rome loses most battles, yet Hannibal cannot conquer Rome itself BC-Third Punic War-Carthage is destroyed.