The attendant new obligation to safeguard the peninsula against foreign interference made it necessary not to allow the neighbouring island of Sicily to fall into the hands of a strong and expansive power. ), and even human sacrifice (molk). Although both countries were comparable in military power and economic strength the two nations had different military advantages: Carthage had a strong naval power while Rome had almost no naval power, but had a stronger ground force. World History Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. Carthaginian Warfare. Tanit, Carthaginian Electrum CoinThe British Museum (Copyright). Hannibal, for example, went one step further than his father Hamilcar Barca (who had used such imagery on his coins) and identified himself as Hercules-Melqart, the figure who was a mix of the invincible Greek hero and the Phoenician-Punic god. The victims were killed by fire, although it is not clear precisely how. Several commanders, following defeat, committed suicide to avoid the latter penalty. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. By a magnificent effort on the part of private citizens a fleet of 200 warships was equipped and sent out to renew the blockade of Lilybaeum. Aside from naval battles, the Carthaginian fleet was also vital for transporting armies, resupplying them by providing an escort for transport ships, coastal raids, attacking enemy supply ships, blockading enemy ports, and relieving Carthaginian forces when they were themselves besieged. The First Punic War was fought to establish control over the strategic islands of Corsica and Sicily. World History Publishing is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. The great general Hamilcar Barca was particularly successful in Spain in the 230s BCE. Tusked and reaching a height of 2.5 metres, the elephants were made even more fearsome by adding armour to the head, trunk, and sides, and blades or spears to the tusks. In 219 Hannibal laid siege to Saguntum and carried the town in spite of a stubborn defense. Punic Stele with Goddess TanitCarole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA). World History Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. They besieged and captured the Carthaginian base at Agrigentum in 262 but made little impression upon the Carthaginian fortresses in the west of the island and upon the towns of the interior. Cartwright, M. (2016, June 16). Many of these professions are mentioned on Punic stelae. Troops were coordinated during battle using standards. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Carthaginian_Religion/. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. Priests may have controlled education, of which we know very little, and also the libraries we know existed at the time of Carthage's destruction in 146 BCE. The naval fleet of Carthage was composed of large warships propelled by sail and oars which were used to ram enemy vessels using a bronze ram mounted on the prow below the waterline. A committee of 10 senators was responsible for state religious matters. According to Livy, Hannibal told Scipio, What I was years ago at Trasimene and Cannae, you are today. Scipio is said to have replied with a message for Carthage: Prepare to fight because evidently you have found peace intolerable. The next day was set for battle. License. At Mylae (Milazzo), off the north Sicilian coast, their admiral Gaius Duilius defeated a Carthaginian squadron of superior maneuvering capacity by grappling and boarding. Omissions? Living an austere life and with distinctive shaved heads, the majority of their positions were hereditary. Motivation for commanders was high too as those generals who failed in wartime were treated harshly. The Western Mediterranean 264 BCEJon Platek (CC BY-SA). what were the advantages the carthaginians had large empire including areas that surrounded carthage such as sicily, corsica, balearic islands carthage was situated in the mediterranean with access to the sea and islands they owned had lots of money and men from their empire what were the disadvantages the carthaginians had The only noteworthy feature of the ensuing campaigns is the skillful guerrilla war waged by a new Carthaginian commander, Hamilcar Barca, from his strong positions on Mt. Buildings were destroyed, the people were sold into slavery, and the land officially cursed. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. Punic Wars: Definition, Scipio & Carthage - HISTORY These had two large columns, one either side of the entrance which led to three chambers within which was not a representation of the god but a large bronze bowl with an eternal flame. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. There were female priests, but once again, the details of initiation and duties of the priestly class remain unknown. Up to the 3rd century BCE war chariots were used, but their limitation of requiring good terrain saw their eventual abandonment in favour of more mobile cavalry. Priests would have enjoyed a high status as they performed rituals and sacrifices (both animal and human) in honour of the Punic gods. Analysis of the remains found within the urns at Carthage reveals that, overall, 80% of the human remains are from newborn babies or foetuses. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Using a blend of terror and diplomacy, Hamilcar relentlessly expanded his control over southern Spain, and the riches from these campaigns were channelled back to Carthage to make it the wealthiest city in the ancient world. The Carthaginians, whose citizen levy was utterly disorganized, could neither keep the field against the invaders nor prevent their subjects from revolting. In response to this threat hundreds of noble children were sacrificed. -the laws showed the internal flaws of the government That Hannibal was fighting from a position of weakness does not in any way diminish Scipios victory for Rome, however. the battle in 202 BC in which Scipio decisively defeated Hannibal at the end of the second Punic War. Ancient sources agree that Carthage had become perhaps the richest city in the world through its trade, yet few traces of its wealth have been discovered by archaeologists. Many stelae have an inscription which describes a human blood sacrifice, but others describe the substitution of a sheep or lamb for a child. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. (252). World History Encyclopedia. No temples survive, no texts on the Punic mythology have come down to us, and we are left only with a number of inscribed stelae and certain art objects to piece together the details. World History Encyclopedia. A second Roman fleet, which subsequently reached Africa after defeating the full Carthaginian fleet off Cape Hermaeum (Shark Peninsula), withdrew all the remaining troops. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. The name Zama was given to the site (which modern historians have never precisely identified) by the Roman historian Cornelius Nepos about 150 years after the battle. Mago, who had sustained battle wounds during a losing engagement in Liguria (near Genoa), died at sea during the crossing. By combining the finest mercenary armies with their own elite forces and huge naval fleet, Carthage was able to dominate the western Mediterranean and protect and expand its vast network of colonies and trading posts from the 9th to 3rd centuries BCE. This appealed to both Carthaginians and Greeks. Punic Wars, also called Carthaginian Wars, (264-146 bce ), a series of three wars between the Roman Republic and the Carthaginian (Punic) empire, resulting in the destruction of Carthage, the enslavement of its population, and Roman hegemony over the western Mediterranean. Third, the loud shouts and blaring trumpets of the Romans may have disconcerted the elephants, some of which swerved to the side early in the battle and instead attacked their own infantry, causing chaos on the front line of Hannibals recruits. It was one of the greatest military feats in history. The larger workshops would have employed both citizens and slaves for their workforce. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the WHE Publishing Director. Polytheistic in nature, such important Phoenician gods as Melqart and Baal were worshipped in the colony alongside new ones such as Tanit. Polytheistic in nature, such important Phoenician gods as Melqart and Baal were worshipped in the colony alongside new ones such as Tanit. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Citizenship was reserved for males indigenous to Carthage and gave the right to participate in the popular assembly of the city. World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. "Hamilcar barca", means they could strike fast and attack from anywhere without warning. A gross breach of the treaty was perpetrated when a Roman force was sent to occupy Sardinia, whose insurgent garrison had offered to surrender the island (238). The Roman Republic's biggest disadvantage was their lack of a strong navy and naval firepower. Invested with an unrestricted foreign command, he spent the rest of his life in founding a Spanish empire (237228). The first and second Punic wars (264241 bce and 218201 bce) had effectively deprived Carthage of its political power. Battle of Zama (202 BC) | The Success of the Roman Republic and Empire The military of Carthage was one of the largest military forces in the ancient world.Although Carthage's navy was always its main military force, the army acquired a key role in the spread of Carthaginian power over the native peoples of northern Africa and southern Iberian Peninsula from the 6th century BC and the 3rd century BC. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. No doubt the appearance and noise of elephants caused panic amongst the enemy's men and horses, but they were wildly unpredictable in battle and could cause as much damage to their own side as the opposition. In the years after the First Punic War, Rome wrested Corsica and Sardinia from Carthage and forced Carthaginians to pay an even greater indemnity than the payment exacted . The battle took place at a site identified by the Roman historian Livy as Naraggara . Simply by investing heavily in warships, the Romans took the latter advantage away. By 265 B.C., Carthage was the wealthiest and most advanced city in the region, as well as its leading naval power. The most important Carthaginian deity was Melqart, patron and protector of the city of Tyre and perhaps given a similar role in early Carthage. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Thank you! The recent complications of foreign and internal strife had indeed so weakened Punic power that the prospect of renewing the war under favourable circumstances seemed remote enough. We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team's carbon footprint. Updates? The quinquereme, so called for its arrangement of five rowers per vertical line of three oars (a total of 300 rowers), became the most widely used in the Punic fleet. Roman expansion in Italy from 298 to 201 bce One Hasdrubal is known to have crucified the Iberian prince Tagua, a Celtic leader named Indortes was blinded before he was crucified, and the Roman general Regulus was put inside a barrel lined with spikes and then rolled through the streets of Carthage. are there any other examples to support his claim? Bibliography The prolonged prosperity of the city during much of its history, based as it was on the labour of others, was probably the most significant reason why the citizens of Carthage acquiesced to rule by an elite aristocracy. War could not be conducted without divine sanction. Some women's names crop up as inscriptions on religious dedications where they are referenced to by either their husband's or father's name. Having staged a successful invasion of Africa and having vanquished its canniest and most-implacable foe, Rome began its vision of a Mediterranean empire. The larger ships were decked and would have carried complements of armed men, both archers and marines armed with spears, javelins, and swords, who could board enemy vessels given the opportunity. Some dedications were jointly inscribed with a father and daughter's names. Despite the importance of such goddesses as Tanit/Astarte in the Carthaginian religion and the myth of the city's founding by Queen Dido (Elissa), women were not granted citizenship and so could not participate in the political life of the city. Help us and translate this definition into another language! Just how this might have been achieved is not known. In addition to utilizing 80 war elephants that were not fully trained, Hannibal was also compelled to rely mostly upon an army of Carthaginian recruits that lacked much battle experience. Further, human sacrifices in ancient sources are almost always the children of rulers and the ruling class, as the gods, apparently, were not to be moved by the sacrifice of the common people. They did not have a navy and had no experience in fighting on the sea What innovation helped the Romans fight sea battles? Masterfully blending his mixed mercenary army into a coherent and disciplined whole, taking full advantage of local terrain, and employing his troops in fast battlefield manoeuvres, Hannibal, for a while at least, was invincible. To avoid complete humiliation Carthage had no resource but to humiliate its adversary. The Battle of Zama left Carthage helpless, and the city accepted Scipios peace terms whereby it ceded Spain to Rome, surrendered most of its warships, and began paying a 50-year indemnity to Rome. what advantages did the carthaginians have? "Carthaginian Religion." He had trained his men to move to the side when the elephants charged, locking their shields and facing the alleys as the elephants passed by. Omissions? Answer and Explanation: Become a Study.com member to unlock this answer! They also mention the victims wearing a smiling mask to hide their tears from the god to whom they were being offered. The Roman fleet of 145 ships defeated the Carthaginian fleet of 130 ships which had not even bothered to form battle lines, so confident were they of victory against the untested Roman sailors. Some revisions are not of actual mistakes, but will improve the clarity of the writing. The elite class of Carthage dominated the important religious posts. His work was continued by his son-in-law Hasdrubal and his son Hannibal, who was placed at the head of the army in 221. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. if you were an emperor thinking about going to war against rome, how might this description make you feel? I would be disappointed that our armies were to scared to try to control carthage, so they had to destroy carthage and all of their people. Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter! who did the romans fight against in the punic wars? When the Carthaginians in 150 resisted Masinissas aggressions by force of arms, thus formally breaking the treaty with Rome, a Roman army was dispatched to Africa. going roof to roof, collecting their power as they take over house by house until they are left with all power in that specific location. In 255 BCE, he reorganised the army and brilliantly combined 100 war-elephants with 12,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry to totally defeat two legions and capture the Roman general Regulus in the process. They lived in the large residential areas of the city in tightly-packed modest homes built of adobe brick, some even multi-storied (up to six floors) to house several families. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. In 147, however, the command was given to Scipio Aemilianus, the adopted grandson of the former conqueror of Carthage. That was a reversal of the situation in Italy, where Hannibal had held the advantage in cavalry and had typically chosen the ground. License. why or why not? Oarsmen were expected to fight in landing operations and help build siege engines but not in ship-to-ship battles. Thus, he could field only about 4,000 cavalry, the bulk of them from a minor Numidian ally named Tychaeus. In practice just how many ordinary citizens could afford not to work and participate in politics is debatable, and there may even have been a minimum wealth qualification. Animal entrails were read too prior to battles, where omens were established which reassured the troops with their promise of victory. At its largest extent, it covered 6,000 square meters and has nine descending levels. Submitted by Mark Cartwright, published on 16 June 2016. Nevertheless, descriptions by Roman authors and surviving inscriptions from Punic stelae help reconstruct at least a partial picture of the social makeup of one of the ancient Mediterranean's most important cultures. To avoid the threat that successful mercenary armies rebelled against the ruling elite of Carthage, the Carthaginians made sure that all senior and middle command positions were held by citizens of Carthage. License. The elite class dominated the religious posts of Carthage too. based on appians description of the destruction of carthage, decribe one way the romans increased and consolidated their power? Books The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. Nevertheless, access to the elite was open to anyone who could acquire the financial means. The Romans certainly took this view and demanded Hannibals surrender. They didn't revolt. Punic Wars, also called Carthaginian Wars, (264146 bce), a series of three wars between the Roman Republic and the Carthaginian (Punic) empire, resulting in the destruction of Carthage, the enslavement of its population, and Roman hegemony over the western Mediterranean. The inhabitants of Carthage were known to the Romans as Poeni, a derivation from the word Phoenikes (Phoenicians), from which the adjective Punic is derived. Catapults could be mounted on the deck of these large vessels but were probably limited to siege warfare and not used in ship-to-ship battles. In 254 they captured the important fortress of Panormus (Palermo), but when Carthage threw reinforcements into the island the war again came to a standstill. Though Carthage had clashed violently with several other powers in the region,. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. The Carthaginians had the advantage in skill and numbers at sea. -news articles written by lower class plebeians, The Twelve Tables and Roman War Mechanics, Ways of the World AP World History: Chapter 11, Dahia Ibo Shabaka, Larry S. Krieger, Linda Black, Phillip C. Naylor, Roger B. Beck, L37-38: lipoprotein metabolism & disorders. Priestess of Isis on a Carthaginian Sarcophagus LidPre Delattre (Public Domain). World History Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. First Punic War, also called First Carthaginian War, (264-241 bce) first of three wars between the Roman Republic and the Carthaginian (Punic) empire that resulted in the destruction of Carthage. Why did Carthage want Sicily? - Heimduo In addition, the Carthaginians were not averse to equipping themselves with the arms and armour of their fallen enemies. The moveable gangplank What advantages did the Carthaginians have when fighting the Romans? Thank you! Just how many slaves were at Carthage can only be guessed at as richer citizens would have had many and poor citizens probably not even one. Of his three battle lines, only his seasoned veterans from Italy (between 12,000 to 15,000 men) were accustomed to fighting Romans; they were positioned at the rear of his formation. The army of Carthage the city was composed of heavily armoured infantry drawn from the citizenry. Similarly, some were promised the return of their land which had been taken from them by the Romans. All of these ploys helped to reassure the common soldier that they were fighting on the right side with the best general. In addition, after a battle or war, the commanders were subjected to a tribunal which investigated their competence or otherwise. What advantage did the Carthaginians have over the Romans? Although both countries were comparable in military power and economic strength the two nations had different military advantages: Carthage had a strong naval power while Rome had almost no naval power, but had a stronger ground force. The first, the diekplous or breakthrough, was when ships formed a single line and sailed right through the enemy lines at a selected weak point. Carthage was, then, an accomplished practitioner of warfare for centuries but eventually, and despite a heroic effort which several times almost brought victory, more than met its match in Rome with its professional and well-trained army backed by a seemingly endless pool of replacements and financial support. The society of Carthage was dominated by an aristocratic trading class who held all of the important political and religious positions, but below this strata was a cosmopolitan mix of artisans, labourers, mercenaries, slaves, and foreigners from across the Mediterranean. Carthage was a sea power so therefore it had a naval advantage over Rome, until the Romans caught up, that is. She represented a mother goddess, life, and fertility. World History Encyclopedia, 16 Jun 2016. Roman-Carthaginian Relations Before the Punic Wars - UKEssays.com Related Content This victory was followed by an investment of the chief Punic base at Lilybaeum (Marsala), together with Drepanum (Trapani), by land and sea. Battle of Zama, (202 bce), victory of the Romans led by Scipio Africanus the Elder over the Carthaginians commanded by Hannibal. The last and decisive battle of the Second Punic War, it effectively ended both Hannibals command of Carthaginian forces and also Carthages chances to significantly oppose Rome. Yes, you're reading this right. who was the audience of the twelve tables? hannibal Flashcards | Quizlet Web. We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team's carbon footprint. World History Encyclopedia, 06 Jul 2016. Did Rome or Carthage have a better navy? While this was the Romans only naval defeat in the war, their fleet had suffered a series of grievous losses by storm, and now it was so reduced that the attack upon Sicily had to be suspended. Operations began with a joint attack upon Messana, which the Romans easily repelled. Carthaginian Religion. if you were a historian researching what life was like for people living in the roman republic, would you consider the twelve tables a reliable source? Hannibal was a military leader from Carthage. what does he mean in your own words? The Roman infantry legions then advanced and attacked Hannibals infantry, which consisted of three consecutive lines of defense. There was a small elite Carthaginian army known as the Sacred Band and composed of 2,000 hoplites, but most of the city's military requirements were met by mercenary armies. Foreigners in the city came from the original founding city of Tyre in Phoenicia, from the conquered areas of North Africa (especially Libya and Numidia), Spain, Italy, and Sardinia. World History Encyclopedia. Second Punic War, also called Second Carthaginian War, second (218-201 bce) in a series of wars between the Roman Republic and the Carthaginian (Punic) empire that resulted in Roman hegemony over the western Mediterranean. Scipio was awarded the surname Africanus in tribute of his victory. what disadvantage did Rome have when fighting the carthiginians? There are cases of slaves being allowed to run businesses for their master with relative autonomy and slaves returning to work for their former master after they had gained their freedom (although this may have been a legal obligation). What advantage did the Carthaginians have over the Romans? Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Carthage was founded by the Phoenician city of Tyre in 813 BCE as a handy location along western Mediterranean trade routes, and the colony would go on to prosper and found its own colonies, eventually taking over the old Phoenician network too. Hannibal famously swore an oath to the god in 237 BCE when, aged 9, he stated that he would forever be the enemy of Rome. World History Encyclopedia. Carthage earned a bloody reputation for its treatment of the vanquished, but this should be tempered with the fact that most of the sources are pro-Roman. The more successful commanders not only possessed the military skills to exploit the unique situations of individual battles and the weaknesses of their enemies but also the ability to mould their own mercenary fighting force into a homogenous unit.
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