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Punic Wars
Punic Wars three distinct conflicts between Carthage and Rome . When they began, Rome had nearly completed the conquest of Italy, while Carthage controlled NW Africa and the islands and the commerce of the W Mediterranean. When they ended, Carthage was ruined, and Rome was the greatest power W of China. The first war saw Rome fighting to break Carthage's growing hold on the chain of islands that enable it to control the W Mediterranean. The second war directly pitted the ambitions of the two commercial powers; the initial area of conflict was Sicily. The last war was the final, desperate attempt of Carthage to preserve Punic (Carthaginian) liberty.
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"Punic Wars." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Punic Wars." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-PunicWar.html "Punic Wars." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-PunicWar.html |
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Punic wars
Punic wars The three wars fought in the 3rd and 2nd century BC between Rome and Carthage, so named from ‘Poenicus’ (‘Dark skin’ or ‘Phoenician’). The contest was for control of the Mediterranean Sea. Rome emerged as victor from each war.
The First (264–241 BC) was fought largely at sea. Rome expanded its navy and took control of Sicily. Corsica and Sardinia were seized a few years later. HAMILCAR BARCA, father of HANNIBAL, led the defeated side. The Second (218–201) arose from Hannibal's invasion of Italy from Carthaginian bases in Spain via the Alps. He led a huge force including elephant squadrons. Rome suffered disastrous defeats, most notably in the mists by Lake Trasimene and at CANNAE. Italy was overrun by Hannibal but the Italian tribes did not rise against Rome. The strategy of the dictator FABIUS prevented further losses. In a long-drawn-out series of campaigns Hannibal's extended lines of supply were threatened by defeats in Sicily and Spain and the brilliant generalship of SCIPIO AFRICANUS. HASDRUBAL, Hannibal's brother, was defeated on the Italian mainland in 207. By 203 Hannibal, who had no effective siege engines, was summoned to withdraw to Africa to defend Carthage itself, now threatened by Scipio. Pursued by Scipio he was defeated at Zama in 202 and the Carthaginians were forced to accept humiliating terms the following year. Spain was acquired as a provincial territory by Rome. In 149 BC at a peak of its territorial expansion and at the insistence of CATO, Rome intervened in an African dispute to side with Numidia against Carthage. In the Third War (149–146) SCIPIO AEMILIANUS besieged and destroyed Carthage utterly, sowed the site with symbolic salt, and declared Africa a Roman province. |
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Cite this article
"Punic wars." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Punic wars." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-Punicwars.html "Punic wars." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-Punicwars.html |
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Punic Wars
Punic Wars (264–146 bc) Series of wars between Rome and Carthage. In the First Punic War (264–241 bc), Carthage was forced to surrender Sicily and other territory. In the Second (218–201 bc), the Carthaginians under Hannibal invaded Italy and won a series of victories. They were eventually forced to withdraw, whereupon the Romans invaded North Africa and defeated Hannibal. The Third Punic War (149–146 bc) ended in the destruction of Carthage.
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Cite this article
"Punic Wars." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Punic Wars." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-PunicWars.html "Punic Wars." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-PunicWars.html |
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