Carthaginian Empire and took

control of the entire

Mediterranean region

abroad

powerful rival in Mediterranean area

state of Carthage- coast of North Africa

founded around 800 BC by Phoenicians (sea traders)

Carthage- ruled great trading empire included parts

of Northern Africa and Southern Europe

controlling movement of goods, Carthage became 

richest city in western Mediterranean

control Sicily

264 BC- dispute brought powers

to blows

First Punic War

Punicus- Phoenician

started Romans sent army to Sicily

to prevent Carthaginian takeover

Carthaginians determined to stop

invasion

Romans- realized could not defeat

sea power like Carthage without navy

built large fleet of ships, confronted

Carthage at sea

war- dragged on more than 20 years

241 BC- Rome crushed Carthage's navy

off coast of Sicily

Carthage- forced to leave Sicily and pay

huge fine to Romans

Sicily- Roman rule

southern Spain

helped people living in Spain to

rebel against Carthage

to punish Rome, Carthage sent

Hannibal (their greatest general)

to attack Rome in 218 BC

Second Punic War

take fighting into Italy

Hannibal- army of about 46,000 men,

horse and 37 elephants

landed forces in Spain and marched

east to attack Italy

before reaching Italy, Hannibal's forces

suffered severe losses crossing steep,

snowy Alps

almost half of soldiers killed as well as

most of elephants

Romans suffered severe loss 216 BC

Battle of Cannae- overpowered the Roman

force and began raiding much of Italy

Romans- raised another army

202 BC- Roman force led by Scipio invaded

Carthage

Hannibal- no choice but to return home

to defend land

Battle of Zama- Scipio's troops defeated

Carthaginians

Carthage- gave up Spain to Rome, also gave

up navy and had to pay large fine

Roman soldiers burned Carthage

enslaved 50,000 men, women and children

Carthage-Roman province

148 BC- Macedonia came under Roman rule

Two years later- Greece became Roman

129 BC - Rome gained first province in Asia