A look at how the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage began.
The Punic wars were fought between Rome and Carthage and lasted for approximately one hundred years, between 264 -146 BC
The first war arose from events in Sicily when a dispute between the Greek colony and Carthaginian settlements resulted in Greece requesting assistance from Rome.
During this time the main military force of the area was that of the Carthaginians, or Phoenicians, and the request for assistance from the Greek colony of Messina was to mark the beginning of the rise of the Roman strength.
The attitude in Messina was one of indecision, whether the problem lay with the Greeks or the Carthaginians. But the introduction of the Roman legions soon escalated into direct confrontation with Rome and the Carthaginians, and it seems as though the Greeks in the Syracuse were not considered by Rome to be a threat to them.
After a short engagement the Romans captured Messina from the Carthaginian soldiers and the Romans took control of Messina.
The occupation of Messina strengthened the hold of Rome and in 262 BC the Roman army began its advance through Sicily, capturing Agrigentum, and although a successful engagement Roman strength was still in question.
The main reason for this was the Roman weakness lay at sea. Throughout this period the Carthaginians retained control of their costal regions and also made attacks upon the coasts of Italy.
In 260 BC the Roman Senate introduced the forming of a Roman fleet, a fleet that would meet the Carthaginians on their own terms; at sea.
Warfare at sea was new to the Romans, they had always had the strength of land armies, and they had yet to gain their sea legs. But by studying a captured war ship from their first encounter they were able to learn, modify and improve a vessel for war.
Within two months a Roman Fleet consisting of 100 ships was manufactured to the delight of the senate.
Yet the production of such a fleet created another problem; an estimated 30,000 men would be required to row them. These men were collected from all the allies of Rome and they were trained and taught on ships that were land based.
The soldiers too needed new training to fight at sea, and Rome began to advance its fighting techniques of war.
An introductional addition to the Roman ships was an invention that had previously been considered by the Greeks called the 'raven.' Basically the raven was a hinged door that fell down crashing into the deck of the opposing ship; a metal spike on the underside of the raven ensured that the ships would be locked together while the Roman soldiers crossed the raven, like a bridge.
The invention was a success, and the Roman navy began to experience victory after victory.
Rome gained a new confidence, the confidence that they were capable of invading Carthage itself by sea. In 256 BC Rome launched its invasion fleet, bound for Africa; the fleet consisting of 300 ships carrying about 30, 000 soldiers and 500 cavalrymen and their horses.
A Carthaginian fleet sailed out to meet them but was easily defeated and the Roman fleet sailed on to land in Africa.
The confidence of the Romans soured and the initial land battles which followed resulted in victory. However, the Roman advance was brought to a halt in 255 BC when a Carthaginian cavalry encounter ended with only 2000 Roman soldiers remaining alive.
Yet Rome was adamant, they would succeed, and another fleet comprising of 350 ships left harbour. But fate was against Rome and the ships are sent against the Carthaginians; after a successful sea encounter the Roman fleet is devastated in gales off the coast of Sicily and only 8 ships sailed home to Rome.
It is estimated that this disaster resulted in the deaths of 100,000 Roman seamen and soldiers and greatly damaged the Roman enthusiasm for war at sea.
After this setback the Romans returned to fighting on land and resumed to fight for Sicily, and although a long engagement the Roman legions eventually secured the Carthaginian supply lines and in 241 gained their advantage with a naval victory at Trapani; Sicily then became the first of the Roman provinces.
The victory in Sicily resulted with a treaty being drawn up between the Romans and Carthaginians and a peace followed, but when in 238, on the Island of Sardinia, a rebellion erupted, Rome sent her armies to assist the rebels. Sardinia fell to the Romans and in and became the second Roman province in 227.
The defeat by Rome caused the Carthaginians to turn their attention to other areas of the Mediterranean and the gold coast of Spain became their next target.
Rome realises the dangers imposed by Carthage with their intentions toward Spain, especially the access they would secure through Southern France, and so in 225 a treaty is imposed that establishes a border at the Ebro River.
The quest for Spain was statistically drawn up by a family of related Carthaginian generals, one of which was Hannibal, who took command of the Army in 221 BC.
Hannibal was a confident and proficient general and he began to formulate a stronger and more formidable army, consolidating their presence in Spain. Rome realised the strength of their opposing enemy and purposely created diplomatic hostilities over an area not located near the set boundaries.
It seems as though both Rome and Carthage were aware of the inevitable outcome that would arise from this quarrel, but it was Hannibal who took the initiative, and decided to take the war to Italy itself.
Hannibal began his expedition in May 218 BC, leading an army of around 40,000 men through the cold and desolate passes of the Alps, to arrive in Northern Italy in October of that year.
The journey proved arduous; the weather and the battles which were undertaken with the Celtic tribesmen took its toll, and by the time Hannibal reached Northern Italy he had lost almost half of his army.
But Hannibal realised that his only success lay in victory.
Throughout the following months Hannibal pressed forward, gaining the advantage and pushing back the Roman legions. The victories he secured over Rome indicated a Roman weakness and the numbers of the Carthaginian armies were swelled by those such as the Celts, who deserted Rome to join Hannibal.
By December 218 BC the Carthaginian army once again numbered approximately 40,000.
In May 217 BC, an unsuspecting Roman army is defeated beside Lake Trasimene, after Hannibal lured them into a trap; 15,000 Roman soldiers died that day.
Hannibal knew the effect that this Roman defeat would have on Rome, yet he delayed his advance into Rome; it seems as though Hannibal wished to reduce the Roman allies even further by convincing them to join him.
In 216 BC the armies of Hannibal and Rome met near Cannae, an open and flat land, and as Hannibal knew, suitable for his cavalry. But that day the Roman cavalry outnumbered those of the Carthaginians by almost 30%.
The Carthaginian infantry outnumbered that of Rome by almost two to one.
The Roman legions were predictable; they were good soldiers who followed their command, and Hannibal knew that they would press head on into his army.
During the initial engagement the Carthaginian army began to fall back at its central point, luring the advancing army into its body. Before they realised their mistake the Roman army became encircled by Hannibal's army. The Roam army became restricted to one area, inside Hannibal's army, and they found themselves fighting in all directions. The battle resulted in another defeat for Rome and less than 10,000 Roman soldiers survived the engagement.
This victory is what Hannibal desired in order to show the weakness of Rome and convince other Roman allies to join him; the allies of Southern Rome joined the ranks of Hannibal.
The strength of Hannibal was growing daily with the addition of more and more of Rome's allies joining him, but a few had remained loyal to Rome. The effect Hannibal had expected was not satisfied, he had hoped that all of Rome's allies would have joined him, and although he commanded the most formidable army on the Italian peninsula he was reluctant to besiege Rome itself.
Rome now realises her own weakness and the need to for them formulate their own plan of survival. They knew that direct confrontation with the army of Hannibal would be a disaster; what should they do?
It was suggested by Fabius, a roman politician and general, that Rome should engage in a 'hit and run,' method, whereby no direct confrontation would take place. The idea was that Rome should seek rather to weaken the army of Hannibal instead of fighting it.
The suggestion was met with mixed feelings; some thought that the method would only prolong the inevitable siege of Rome allowing Hannibal to increase his army strength, while others thought that for the moment it would be their best policy.
The favour went to Flavius and for twelve years the Roman army 'cut, slash and ran,' breaking supply lines, and inflicting mayhem upon the Carthaginian forces without direct engagement.
The title of 'delayer' was bestowed upon Flavious, but his technique worked.
Hannibal realises the effect that these sorties are having upon his army, especially the moral of his men, and it angers him; yet he still will not commit to attacking Rome.
When Hannibal crossed the Alps to invade Rome he left his country undefended, and in his absence the Roman army in Africa advanced. Had Hannibal continued in his quest to take Rome then the course of history would probably have been changed. Yet the indecision of Hannibal caused him to leave Italy in 203BC to defend Carthage from the threat of Rome.
In 203 BC, at a site in Tunisia, the armies of Hannibal engage the Army of Rome; Hannibal is defeated.
Rome was always keen on treaties and after their victory over Hannibal they imposed several; that Carthage should surrender Spain and all her remaining islands in the Mediterranean; that she is to hand over her warships to Rome; that she is to pay an indemnity of 10,000 talents over the next fifty years; and that she is to submit to Rome in all matters of war and foreign policy.
In a sense Carthage submitted to Rome, but the Phoenician's were always reluctant to yield completely. By 150 BC the reluctance of Carthage to comply without question becomes a matter for the senate and their decision is that Carthage must be destroyed.
Towards this end, Rome purposely accuses Carthage of making war against a neighbour, and have therefore 'gone to war' with another without the permission of Rome.
Rome was rather hard on the Phoenicians when in 149 BC; they suggested that all Carthaginians would be spared the wrath of Rome if they abandoned their city, which they intended to destroy. Another condition was that they should move away from the costal region and not engage in trade of any type.
The Carthaginians expected a siege by Rome; a siege followed which lasted for three years, until forced into submission by starvation the city yielded. It is estimated that at the beginning of the siege there were 250,000 people resident in the city and that only 50,000 survived. The survivors were sold into slavery and the city was raised to the ground.
The Punic wars would convince Rome that their military strength was essential for their security and it gave rise to the Roman Empire.