Lecture Notes: The Expansion of Rome and the Punic Wars

Early Expansion of Rome

• Initial Context:

  • Rome, surrounded by enemies at the beginning of the Republic, expanded for defense.
  • Engaged in a series of wars in Italy and the Mediterranean.
  • Initially reluctant to administer or exploit defeated territories.

• Territorial Control by 270 BCE:

  • Rome controlled most of the Italian peninsula.
  • Significant expansions occurred under the Republic rather than the Empire.

Changes in Government

• By 200s BCE, the Roman Senate included both patricians and influential plebeians.

The Punic Wars Overview

• Timeframe: 264 - 146 BCE.
• Main Opponent: Carthage, a former Phoenician colony.
• Key Conflicts: Control over Sicily and the western Mediterranean.

First Punic War (264 - 241 BCE)

• Cause:
  • Carthage aimed to control Sicily.
• Roman Strategy:
  • Developed a navy to counter Carthage's sea power.
• Result:
  • Romans took control of Sicily, Carthaginians paid indemnity.
  • Sicily became the first Roman province.
  • Carthage vowed revenge and extended its power into Spain.

Second Punic War (218 - 201 BCE)

• Key Figure: Hannibal Barca.

• Hannibal’s Campaign:

  • Led a large army, including war elephants, through the Alps into Italy.
  • Initial quick defeats inflicted on Romans.

• Roman Response:

  • Fabian Strategy: Avoid direct combat, focus on attrition. Led by Fabius Maximus.
  • Strategy effective but abandoned for direct confrontation.

• Battle of Cannae (216 BCE):

  • Hannibal achieved a major victory using tactical encirclement.
  • Romans suffered heavy losses.

• Outcome:

  • Romans reinstated Fabian Strategy.
  • Hannibal forced to roam Italy without decisive battles.

• Roman Counterattack:

  • Led by Scipio Africanus.
  • Conquered Spain and pushed into North Africa.

• Battle of Zama:

  • Scipio defeated Hannibal, Carthage sued for peace.
  • Spain became a Roman province.
  • Rome dominant in the Mediterranean.

Third Punic War (149 - 146 BCE)

• Cause:
  • Carthage rebuilt as an economic power, causing Roman jealousy.
• Roman Action:
  • Attacked and burned Carthage.
  • Territory became Roman province of Africa.

Aftermath and Significance

• Shifts in Roman Policy:
  • Romans recognized issues with allowing defeated territories independence.
• Dominance:
  • Roman dominance in the western Mediterranean.
  • Commitment to eastern expansion for wealth.
• Impact on Roman Society:
  • Increased wealth led to corruption.
  • Greater emphasis on military leadership.

Conclusion

• Roman expansion, especially during the Punic Wars, fundamentally changed Roman society.
• Next lecture to explore further effects on Roman society.

Carthage must be destroyed.