The Punic Wars Note/Vocab

Patricians

Wealthy, land-holding, upper-class, group of powerful Romans
-They were the rich people of Rome.

Plebeians

Common, regular people of Rome
-They were the farmers, artisans, and merchants who had little wealth or power.
-They elected tribunes to represent them in government.
-They were the poor people of Rome.

Dictator

A person who was given total power in times of crisis. But the power was temporary.

Mediterranean Sea

Large body of water that touches borders of northern Africa, Europe, & Asia Minor
-Literally means "Middle of land"
-Romans called it "Mare Nostrum" ("our sea")

Republic

A government where some citizens have the right to elect their leaders
-From "Res Publica" - "People's Thing" (it was the Roman version of a democratic government)

Punic Wars

A series of three wars between Rome and Carthage (264-146BC)
-Rome won all 3 wars
-Carthage was ultimately destroyed. Rome became the dominant power in the western Mediterranean.

Hannibal Barca

Carthaginian military commander in the 2nd Punic War.
-Attempted a surprise attack on Rome by crossing the Alps with a large group of soldiers, horses, and elephants.

Peninsula

Land surrounded by water on three sides
-Greece and Italy are both peninsulas

The Alps

The mountain range in northern Italy
-Runs E to W and W to E
-Hannibal crossed the Alps and entered Italy during the 2nd Punic War
-Hannibal lost half his soldiers and many elephants when he crossed the Alps

The Appennines

The mountain range running down through Italy
Runs N to S and S to N

General Scipio

Roman general who defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama
-leader of the Roman army during the 2nd Punic War

Legions

Roman army unit of about 5,000 men

Punic

Latin word for "Phoenicians" - the people who lived in Carthage

Sicily

The island territory fought over in the 1st Punic War
-the Romans and Carthaginians each controlled half of the island and both wanted control over the entire island
-Rome won

War Elephants

Hannibal used elephants own battle to trample enemy armies

Spain & Northern Africa

Territories Carthage had to give to Rome after losing the 2nd Punic War

Hamilcar Barca

Hannibals' father
-He commanded the Carthaginian navy during the 1st Punic War
-He made Hannibal take a blood oath to always be an enemy of Rome

Hasdrubal Barca

Hannibal's brother
-He was supposed to meet up with Hannibal to attack the city of Rome
-The Romans cut off his head and sent it to Hannibal in a basket before he could meet Hannibal

Cavalry

Soldiers on horseback

Corvus

Retractable bridge the Romans added to their ships
-Allowed the Romans to cross over onto their enemy's ships
-Turned naval battle into a land-style battle

Carthage

City-state on coast of northern Africa
-Homebase of the Phoenician Empire

Navy

Carthage's military strength

Army

Rome's military strength

Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia

Territories Carthage had to give to Rome after losing the 1st Punic War

Spain to southern gaul to the Alps to Italy

The route Hannibal took to invade Italy during the 2nd Punic War

Senator Cato

Roman senator who said Carthage had to be destroyed or they would rise again to fight Rome
-Led to the 3rd Punic War

"Carthage must be destroyed!"

Senator Cato's catch-phrase
-He ended every speech he gave with this phrase
-He wanted Carthage destroyed before they could regain power and attack Rome again

Salt

Salt was poured onto the Carthaginian soil so nothing could be grown

Seguntum

City in Spain that was an ally of Rome
-Hannibal attacked this city to get Rome to declare war on Carthage

Gauls

Tribes living in Alps who hated the Romans
-gave soldiers and supplies to Hannibal to help fight against the Romans

3

how many punic wars were there?

carthage

a region in the north african coast that had been settled by te phonecians

the roman republic broke an alliance with Carthage and invaded Sicily

what happened in 264 B.C.?

rome breaks and alliance with Carthage and invades Sicily

cause of the first punic war

general Hamilcar Barca

general of carthage

Hannibal was elected commander

what happened in 221 B.C.

when Carthage conquers saguntum

what marked the beginning of the second punic war?

Rome conquered Sicily, Sardina and Corsica

effect of the first punic war

rome

who won the second punic war?

north

in the second Punic war Hannibal thought an invasion from ______________ would surprise the romans

scipio

in the third Punic war who is the Romans brilliant general?

Carthage was burned down to the ground

what was the result of the third Punic war?

elephants

Hannibal used _________ in his attack's as a frightening animal and this idea was brought from Alexander the great from India

spain

in the first Punic war after the Romans captured Sicily where did the Carthaginians find their next trading center