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Punic Wars

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Assignment 1: Preliminary Bibliography

Bagnall, Nigel. The Punic Wars 264-146 BC. Routledge, 2003.

Champion, Craige B. "Polybius and the Punic Wars." A companion to the Punic Wars (2011):

95-109.

Cornell, Tim. The beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars

(c. 1000–264 BC). Routledge, 2012.

Goldsworthy, Adrian. The Fall of Carthage: The Punic Wars 265-146BC. Orion, 2012.

Hoyos, Dexter, ed. A companion to the Punic Wars. John Wiley & Sons, 2011.

Miles, Richard. Carthage must be destroyed: the rise and fall of an ancient civilization. Penguin,

2011

Primary Source

Polybius (2012). Polybius: The Histories. The Loeb Classical Library (in Ancient Greek,

English, and Latin). Translated by Paton, W.R. Chicago: University of Chicago

(LacusCurtius)

Assignment 2: Review of the Primary Source

Polybius (2012). Polybius: The Histories. The Loeb Classical Library (in Ancient Greek,

English, and Latin). Translated by Paton, W.R. Chicago: University of Chicago

(LacusCurtius)

Polybius was a Greek based historian who emerged during the Hellenistic Period. In his book

The Histories Polybius examines the rise of the Roman Republic as a world power following the

defeat of its geopolitical rival, the Carthage. The book The Histories covers in great depth the
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period between 264 and 146 BC a period which witnessed a series of war between the Roman

Republic and the Ancient Carthage. Polybius in his work The Histories provides an in-depth

analysis on power separation in government and mixed constitution. He also provides

discussions on the limits of power and introduction of “the people” a system which was very

important to the Two Treaties of the Government of John Locke, the Spirit of the law and the

founders of the United States’ Constitution. The Histories includes the accounts of eyewitness on

the defeat of Corinth and Carthage as well as the Annexation of Greece Mainland following the

Achaean War. The book primarily focuses on the period between 200 and 167 BC when the

Ancient Rome was engaged in the Punic war against its geographic and political rival Carthage

and the Rise of Roman to become the dominant power in the ancient Mediterranean region.

In the volume I-V of the book, Polybius discusses the political relationships and affairs in the

leading states of Mediterranean at the period including Egypt and Ancient Greece and their

interconnectedness. In book VI of The Histories, he discusses the moral institutions, political and

military institutions that led to the victory of the Roman Republic in the Punic Wars.

Furthermore he describes the First as well as the Second Punic Wars concluding that Roman

Republic was successful in these wars due to the Roman’s institutions and customs which were

deeply rooted in the desire to promote noble actions and fear of the gods.

As a result Polybius’ The Histories is relevant to this research as it explores in details the events

and actions that resulted into the first and the second Punic Wars. Additionally, Polybius

describes in details the major events of the war as well as the states that participated into the war.

This information is important for the development of this research. Lastly, his work is important

to this work as it provides different analysis and versions of Hellenistic period using credible and

actual evidence of the period to provide an analysis on the Punic War.

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Assignment 3: Final Research Paper on Punic Wars

Introduction

The Punic Wars, which is also known as the Carthaginian Wars were a series of continuous war

between The Roman Republic and the Carthage. The Punic Wars took place for nearly one

century between 264 and 146 BCE resulting into the defeat of Carthage and the rise of Rome as

the dominant force in the western Mediterranean World1. The Punic Wars is believed to have

originated in 275BCE after Rome emerged as the dominant force and protector of the entire

Italy. With Rome’s new obligation to protect peninsula against any forms of attack and

interference from foreigners, it was dangerous to allow the Island of Sicily to fall under the

Carthage, a powerful and dominant naval city at the period. On the other hand, Carthage had

established itself as a dominant naval power in northern Africa and was determined to conquer

the Island of Sicily so as to gain control of the entire island ports and control of the entire

Mediterranean world. The First Punic War emerged in 264 BCE following Rome’s interference

in the Carthaginian control Sicily after the appeal of the Messana locals for Rome to help in war

against Carthaginians. According to Polybius, the First Punic War was the world’s longest and

mostly contested war in the world’s history lasting for a period of 23years2. This war ended as

Rome emerged victorious and controlling both Corsica and Sicily. This marked the beginning of

Roman Republic as a naval and a dominant power in western Mediterranean. The second Punic

war started in 218 B.C after Carthaginian General Hannibal invasion of Italy. The Carthaginian

army obtained much victory in this war at Lake Cannae and Trasimene before they were

eventually defeated in 202 B.C by Roman Republic Scipio Africans. At the end of the second

1
Goldsworthy, Adrian. The Fall of Carthage: The Punic Wars 265-146BC. Orion, 2012.

2
Polybius (2012). Polybius: The Histories. The Loeb Classical Library (in Ancient Greek, English, and Latin). Translated by Paton, W.R.
Chicago: University of Chicago (LacusCurtius
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Punic War, Rome emerged victorious and controlling significant portion of Spain and the

Western Mediterranean world. The third Punic War emerged in 146 B.C when Rome declared

war against Carthage. During this war, the Romans led by Scipio the younger resolved to war in

the Carthage territories leading to the capturing and destruction of Carthage city 146 B.C. as a

result, Carthage territories were captured and made under the control of Roman empire becoming

the Roman Province of Africa. This work is focused in discussing the Punic wars as they

unfolded.

Background and Origin of Punic Wars

Before the outbreak of the first Punic War, Rome had been on a constant conquest to expand into

the southern mainland of Italy. In 272 B.C, Rome conquered Italian Peninsular following the

defeat of Magna Graecia in the Pyrrhic War. During the expedition Rome’s conquest to expand

its territories into southern Italy, Carthage on the other hand had established its capital into

today’s Tunisia3. Carthage had become a dominant power in the southern Spain, the coast of

North America, Corsica Balearic Islands and half of Western Sicily. By 265 B.C Carthage had

emerged to be the dominant naval power and the wealthiest and most advanced city in the entire

western Mediterranean region. Before 265 B.C Carthage had been involved in a series of wars

with the city states of Greece in Sicily4. However, Carthage and Rome were known to have

established peaceful and friendly relationships through formal Alliances as they were the

preeminent powers within the region5. During the Pyrrhic Wars which took place between 280

3
Goldsworthy, Adrian. The Fall of Carthage: The Punic Wars 265-146BC. Orion, 2012.
Cornell, Tim. The beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars (c. 1000–264 BC). Routledge, 2012.
4

Miles, Richard. Carthage must be destroyed: the rise and fall of an ancient civilization. Penguin, 2011.
5
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and 275 B.C Rome and Carthage were alternately engaged in war against King of Epirus and

therefore forming a strong commercial link between the dominant powers.

According to a classicist Richard Miles, the attitude of Rome towards the expansion into

southern Italy came into practice following the Carthage’s approach to the Island of Sicily which

caused the two dominant powers to stumble into war6. The immediate cause of war resulted after

Rome intervened on a Carthaginian province war in western coast of Sicily Island. In this

conflict known as the machinery war, the Syracuse soldiers attacked the Messina city. While

Rome supported Messina, Carthage on the other hand supported the Syracuse soldiers. The

difference in the issue concerning the control over Sicily’s independence resulted into a war

between these two dominant powers in the region7. This thus resulted into war between Carthage

and Rome, spiking the beginning of the First Punic War.

The First Punic War

The first Punic War started in 264 B.C after Rome intervened in a dispute at the West coast of

Sicily Island. The war took place on the Mediterranean waters surrounding the Island of Sicily

and was predominated by marine warfare. A band of mercenaries called Mamertini had forcibly

established them in the city of Messina and were fought by Syracuse. As a result they appealed

to Carthage and Rome to intervene in the fight. While Rome supported the Messines, Carthage

on the other supported Syracuse. The struggle between the controls of island of Sicily thus

exploded into a direct confrontation between these two dominant powers. While Carthage was a

dominant naval state at the period, Rome on the other hand was rapidly establishing its army to

confront Carthage’s naval army landing the first victory in Mylae war in 260B.C. followed by

Miles, Richard. Carthage must be destroyed: the rise and fall of an ancient civilization. Penguin, 2011.
6

7
Champion, Craige B. "Polybius and the Punic Wars." A companion to the Punic Wars (2011): 95-109
 7

the victory in Ecnomus Battle in 256 B.C. in 241 B.C Rome was able to defeat the Carthaginian

navy at the Mediterranean wars leading to Rome’s control over Sicily Island which became

Rome’s first overseas province, Corsica and emerging as the superpower of the Mediterranean

world8. The First Punic War lasted for approximately 23 years becoming one of the longest and

most contested warfare in history and ended in241 B.C.

The Second Punic War

The second Punic War started in 218 B.C and ended in 201 B.C. In the decades following

Rome’s defeat of Carthage over the Island of Sicily Rome was able to take control of both

Sardinia and Corsica. On the other hand, Carthage established new army base in order to obtain

control over Spain under the leadership of Hannibal who, according to Polybius took a blood

oath against Rome9. Upon the death of Carthage’s general Barco, Hannibal took control and

marched his troops to Spain and Italy, waging war against Rome. They landed significant

victories against Rome in the war at Ticinus Trasimene and Terbia. In 216 B.C Hannibal’s

invasion reached its peak in the Battle of Cannae where used his cavalry troops to surround the

Roman army. This resulted into massive and devastating casualties. The Romans were able to

rebound and secured victory over Spain and North Africa during the Battle of Zama in 202 B.C

and the leadership of Scipio Africanus10. On the other hand Carthaginian army lost control over

Italy as the survivors were forced to abandon the war in Italy so as to defend North Africa. The

loss of the war in the Second Punic War brought to an end the Carthage Empire over the Western

Mediterranean while Rome emerged to be the superpower landing control over Spain and Italy.

8
Goldsworthy, Adrian. The Fall of Carthage: The Punic Wars 265-146BC. Orion, 2012.

9
Polybius (2012). Polybius: The Histories. The Loeb Classical Library (in Ancient Greek, English, and Latin). Translated by Paton, W.R.
Chicago: University of Chicago (LacusCurtius
10
Bagnall, Nigel. The Punic Wars 264-146 BC. Routledge, 2003
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On the other hand, Carthage was only left with its own territory in West Africa. Additionally,

Carthage was stripped of its oversea provinces and territories and some of its fleet and paying

very large war reparations. Carthage seized to be a dominant power and a threat to Rome.

Third Punic War

The third Punic War broke out in 149 B.C following the efforts of the Roman Senate to convince

other members of the senate that Carthage was still a threat to the Supremacy of Rome after

Carthage broke the treaty and waging war against Numidia State. In response, Rome sent its

army to North Africa resulting to the third Punic War11. Carthage was able to withstand the war

for two years. However, after the change in Roman Command placed General Scipio the

Youngest in charge in 147 B.C. Rome launched an attack on Carthage pushing its way into the

cities capital in 146 BC resulting into complete destruction of Carthage and most of the survivors

of Carthage sold into slavery. The third Punic War was fought exclusively on Carthage’s

territories completely abolishing the city.

In conclusion, the Punic wars were series of war fought between Rome and Carthage resulting

into the rise of Rome as a dominant power in the Mediterranean world and the seizing of

Carthage as a dominant power in western Mediterranean. The war which took place for over a

century started in 264 B.C and ended in 146 B.C after the defeat and demolition of Carthage by

the Roman republic.

Bibliography
11
Hoyos, Dexter, ed. A companion to the Punic Wars. John Wiley & Sons, 2011
 9

Bagnall, Nigel. The Punic Wars 264-146 BC. Routledge, 2003.

Champion, Craige B. "Polybius and the Punic Wars." A companion to the Punic Wars (2011):

95-109.

Cornell, Tim. The beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars

(c. 1000–264 BC). Routledge, 2012.

Goldsworthy, Adrian. The Fall of Carthage: The Punic Wars 265-146BC. Orion, 2012.

Hoyos, Dexter, ed. A companion to the Punic Wars. John Wiley & Sons, 2011.

Miles, Richard. Carthage must be destroyed: the rise and fall of an ancient civilization. Penguin,

2011.

Polybius (2012). Polybius: The Histories. The Loeb Classical Library (in Ancient Greek,

English, and Latin). Translated by Paton, W.R. Chicago: University of Chicago

(LacusCurtius)