The First Punic War

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Carnage is a city founded by the Phoenicians. The Phoenicians are the great sailors of the Mediterranean. They founded Carthage in North Africa. Punic is Latin for the Phoenicians. The First Punic War is from 264-241 bc. The reason behind the 1st Punic War is two growing powers in the Mediterranean outgrow they’re own area and clash. Neither power is strong enough to fight and compete with the Eastern Mediterranean powers. So they will compete over who is charge of the Western Mediterranean. Both share similar histories and time periods. Carthage has expanded and conquered everything through their military. While Rome has done the same but also invited several cities and citizenship. So in Rome the citizens are much more loyal and happy to…show more content…
All the money that comes in though goes to a small elite family of people in Carthage while in Rome the Plebeians have already started to get more money power and say in the government. The Roman government is better organized but in Carthage the generals and military is better because the military and government are separate while in Rome the politicians are the generals. The war is going to start over and in the island of Sicily. This begins a trend of Rome not starting wars but finding good excuses for the enemy to start a war. Carthage is taking over Sicily and Rome has recently won they’re war over the Greeks. Rome tells Sicily it should be free and then declare themselves allies of a city Sicily so when Carthage comes back and tries to exert control of them Rome defends them and sends an army. Carthage only has a small force in Sicily so Rome gets rid of them. Rome at this point learns that in order to become a world power in the Mediterranean they need a navy. Carthage sends its entire fleet to take back most of Sicily. Roman ships are Trireme which are based of the Greek ones. The Carthaginian fleet is the Quinquereme. The Carthage fleet destroys the Roman…show more content…
The 1st Punic War is both powers growing and expanding while the 2nd Punic War is one man’s fight Hannibal against Rome and Carthage’s hatred towards Rome. Hannibal will forever be known as Rome’s greatest enemy. Since the East is off limits because of they’re power and Rome has taken it’s islands this pushes Carthage further west to take most of Spain led by Hamilcar. Remembered as one of Carthage’s greatest military leaders. After Hamilcar’s death Hasdrubal takes over which is the son of Hamilcar and takes over Spain for Carthage. Rome takes notice of Carthage’s expansion and decides to get involved. They decide over a point in Spain which Cartage cannot go over which is the Ebro River. Meanwhile the Romans go to a Greek city there called Seguntum and tell them that the Carthaginians are expanding all around them and that they should ally themselves with Rome. When Hasdrubal dies, Hannibal the youngest son of Hamilcar takes over. Hannibal uses his army to take over Seguntum. This is an independent act and not approved by the Carthaginian government. This surprises Rome that Carthage would do that. Rome sends an embassy and says its ok just give up the city and well backtrack no need for a problem. The Carthaginian government says no its exactly what we decided to do because it is unifying all of Carthage against Rome. Rome declares war. Rome now has to get ready for war while Carthage and Hannibal already are ready. Rome’s plan
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