Punic wars

1. Punic wars Prezentace byla vytvořena v rámci projektu Podpora moderních forem výuky na ZŠ Libereckého kraje

2. Punic Wars • These were wars between the Roman republic and Carthage oligarchy. • Rome in these days have been controlled by „The Senate“. It was comprised of wealthy and noble people but there was representative of ordinary people too - called „The Tribune of people“ or Plebeian Tribune. • Carthage was a city state, it had many allies and colonies. • It was founded by !the „Foinicians“, these were a nation of sailors and merchants. • Romans called people of Carthage „The Puni“. • Carthage traded copper, slaves, silver and other commodities.

3. Why The Rome battled Carthage? • Roman senate decided to wage war with Carthage. It was a strong adversary though. It had strong navy, numerous army and vast funds and many colonies. It also had fighting experience both on sea and inland. Although Romans were better when fighting on the ground, they lacked the naval superiority Carthage had. Carthage was a superpower controlling the Mediterienan Sea.. Romans wanted to control the sea and needed Sicily too. Sicily was held by Carthage.

4. Romans fought three wars with Carthage. First, they conquered its colonies, than had to defeat their navy and army. The most famous military leader of Carthage, Hannibal, managed to sail across the sea, during the second puni war. Then he crossed with his whole army Alps (even with his famous war elephants). He almost conquered Rome itself. Finally, he was defeated by Romans and abandoned by merchants leading Carthage. They thouht, the war was too expensive to be waged on. In their army the mercenaries was the main force, instead of citizen army, Romans had.

5. Puni warswerewagedduring these years: The first Puni war (264-241) The second Puni war (218-201) The third Puni war (149-146) (All dates are B.C. )

6. What was the way the Carthage was fighting? • Carthage were famous because of their naval force. • The ground force was mainly very good, but differences between units were great. • They favorized lighter, mercenary trops. Mainly spear throwers, archers. • Their army consisted of units with war elephants. These carried javelin throwers. • The Carthage had excellent heavy but innumerous infantry comparable to greek heavy phalanx.

7. How Romans fought? • Romans were not initially experienced sailors and prefered ground fighting. • Therefore they invented new ways of fighting. Using ships with built bridges, they were able to invade enemy ships with troops. • The core of their armies were legionaries (foot soldiers), they used auxiliary troops (for example archers) and cavalry was used mainly for recon and pursuing of enemies.

8. WhatwasthefateofCarthage? • Carthage lost all its colonies and was forced to pay reparatons. • Rome was not satisfied and looked for a reason to start third war. • When Carthage helped its ally, Rome said it was prohibited and send an army to destroy it. Carthage was surrounded, conquered and almost completely destroyed. But it survived and was rebuilt, by Romans.

9. Vocabulary • Hanibal • Galeon • Foinicians • Senat • Tribune ofpeople/plebeian Tribune • Mercenary • Reparations • Carthage military leader who almost conquered Rome. • Ship with a low deck • A nation of sailors and merchants • A group of people who ruled in Rome and created laws. • A man who represented common people in roman senate. • Soldier fighting for money.