Punic wars
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| Punic Wars |
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| First – Mercenary – Second – Third |
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 dominant power of the Mediterranean, with an extensive maritime empire, while Rome was the rapidly ascending power in Italy. By the end of the third war, after the death of many hundreds of thousands of soldiers from both sides, Rome had conquered Carthage's empire and razed the city, becoming in the process the most powerful state of the Western Mediterranean. With the end of the Macedonian wars — which ran concurrently with the Punic wars — and the defeat of the Seleucid Emperor Antiochus III the Great (Treaty of Apamea, 188 BC) in the eastern sea, Rome emerged as the dominant Mediterranean power and the most powerful country in the Western world of the time. This was a turning point which meant that the civilization of the ancient Mediterranean would pass to the modern world via Europe instead of Africa.
- The First Punic War (264 BC - 241 BC) was fought partly on land in Sicily and Africa, but was also a naval war to a big account. The struggle was costly to both powers, but Rome was victorious — it conquered the island of Sicily. The effect of the war destablized Carthage so much that Rome was able to seize Sardinia and Corsica a few years later when Carthage was plunged into the Mercenary War.
- The Second Punic War (218 BC - 202 BC) is famous for the Carthaginian Hannibal's crossing the Alps. He and his army invaded Italy from the north and defeated the Roman army in several battles, but never managed to effect a political break between Rome and her allies. Hispania, Sicily and Greece were also key theatres, Rome emerging victorious in all three. Eventually, the war was taken to Africa, and Carthage was defeated at the Battle of Zama, its territory being reduced to the city itself in a striking loss of power.
- The Third Punic War involved an extended siege of Carthage between 149 BC and the spring of 146 BC, ending in the city's destruction. The resurgence of the struggle can be explained by growing anti-Roman agitations in Hispania and Greece, and the visible improvement of Carthaginian wealth and martial power since the second war.
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