Punic Wars

The Punic Wars were a series of three wars fought between Rome and the Phoenician city of Carthage. They are known as the "Punic" Wars because Rome's name for Carthaginians was Punici (older Poenici, due to their Phoenician ancestry).

Related Topics:
Rome - Phoenicia - Carthage

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The primary cause of the Punic Wars was the clash of interests between the expanding Carthaginian and Roman spheres of influence. The Romans were particularly interested in expansion via Sicily, most of which lay under Carthaginian control. At the start of the first Punic War, Carthage was the ascendant power of the Mediterranean, with an extensive maritime empire, while Rome was rapidly rising in prominence as the dominant power in Italy. By the conclusion of the third war, Rome had conquered Carthage's entire empire and razed the city itself to the ground, becoming in the process the most powerful state of the Mediterranean.

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• The First Punic War (264 BC - 241 BC) was primarily fought in Sicily and at sea. Both states suffered heavily; Rome was the victor, receiving Sicily and Sardinia as spoils.
• The Second Punic War (218 BC - 202 BC) is famous for Hannibal's crossing of the Alps. Hannibal invaded Italy and defeated the Roman army in several battles, but never managed to effect a political break between Rome and her allies. Spain, Sicily and Greece were also key theatres, Rome emerging victorious in all three. Eventually, the war was taken to Africa and Carthage defeated, being reduced to the city itself and losing all power.
• The Third Punic War (149 BC - 146 BC) was the three year siege of Carthage, ending in that city's destruction.

Also see ancient warfare.

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