The second Punic war was the result of the growing rivalry between the two great powers that were now struggling for supremacy in the western Mediterranean (Rome and Carthage), with the trigger of the war being the rapid growth of the Carthaginian dominion in Spain, with Carthage building up a great empire in the Spanish peninsula, expecting to raise new armies to invade Italy.
The second Punic war was a conflict of a military Carthaginian genius called Hannibal against Rome, and later shared with the young Roman general Scipio, who effectively offset Carthage’s looting of Italy and its allies.
In 221 B.C. Hasdrubal, the Carthaginian general that founded New Carthage in the Iberian Peninsula and prone at diplomatic solutions, was assassinated by a Celtic assassin; the army chose Hannibal as commander in chief. In his boyhood Hannibal had sworn an eternal hostility to Rome. Hannibal felt that his mission has come with its appointment as the commander of the Carthage’s military force to attack Rome. He started his mission by marching from New Carthage to attack the Rome ally city of Saguntum; which brought the protest of Rome, their mutual declaration of war, and the started the second Punin War that lasted seventeen years (from 2180 to 201 B.C.). With his innate military skills, Hannibal, left Spain, landed in Italy and stated a campaign across northern and southern Italy, defeating Roman army legions (with the Cannae war as a turning point), convinced the Italian allies that it would be better to have his protection. The Apulians, the Lucanians, the Samnites, the Bruttians, revolted and put themselves under his protection. But the Latin colonies and the Greek cities generally remained loyal to Rome. The influence of Hannibal’s victory was also apparent outside of Italy. Syracuse transferred her allegiance from Rome to Carthage, and many other cities in Sicily threatened to revolt. The king of Macedonia, also made an alliance with Hannibal, and threatened to invade Italy to assist him. In the face of all discouragements, the Roman people, supported by the faithful Latin towns and colonies, remained firm; and with fixed resolution determined to prosecute the war with greater vigor than ever before, raising new armies with which to resist the invaders and to defend their country. Romans thought that the problem now seemed greater than ever before. The war had to be carried on, not only in Italy, but also to recover the revolted allies, in Spain, to prevent re-enforcements; in Sicily; and finally in Greece, to prevent the king of Macedonia from interfering in the affairs of Italy. A young Roman commander, called Scipios (came the nearest to being a Roman military genius), was sent to Spain, where he defeated Hannibal’s brother Hasdrubal. Meanwhile, Hannibal’s army met its first repulse in Campania. The Romans allied with the Aetolian cities of Greece and sent a few troops, were able to prevent Macedonia from giving any aid to Hannibal. Soon Syracuse was captured; while, Hannibal’s forces were weakened by the need …show more content…
In 202 B.C., the final battle of the war was fought near Zama. Hannibal fought at a great disadvantage. His own veterans were reduced greatly in number, and the new armies of Carthage could not be depended upon. In this battle Hannibal was defeated, and the Carthaginian army was annihilated.
The Second Punic war had ended, and in 201 B.C., Scipio had imposed the terms of peace: (1) Carthage was to give up the whole of Spain and all the islands between Africa and Italy; (2) Masinissa was recognized as the king of Numidia and the ally of Rome; (3) Carthage was to pay an annual tribute of 200 talents (about $250,000) for fifty years; (4) Carthage agreed not to wage any war without the consent of Rome.
At the end of the second Punic war, Rome was thus recognized as the power of the western Mediterranean. Carthage, although not reduced to a province, became a dependent state. Syracuse was added to the province of Sicily, and the territory of Spain was divided into two provinces, Hither and Farther Spain. Rome had, moreover, been brought into hostile relations with Macedonia, which paved the way for her conquests in the
The second Punic war was a conflict of a military Carthaginian genius called Hannibal against Rome, and later shared with the young Roman general Scipio, who effectively offset Carthage’s looting of Italy and its allies.
In 221 B.C. Hasdrubal, the Carthaginian general that founded New Carthage in the Iberian Peninsula and prone at diplomatic solutions, was assassinated by a Celtic assassin; the army chose Hannibal as commander in chief. In his boyhood Hannibal had sworn an eternal hostility to Rome. Hannibal felt that his mission has come with its appointment as the commander of the Carthage’s military force to attack Rome. He started his mission by marching from New Carthage to attack the Rome ally city of Saguntum; which brought the protest of Rome, their mutual declaration of war, and the started the second Punin War that lasted seventeen years (from 2180 to 201 B.C.). With his innate military skills, Hannibal, left Spain, landed in Italy and stated a campaign across northern and southern Italy, defeating Roman army legions (with the Cannae war as a turning point), convinced the Italian allies that it would be better to have his protection. The Apulians, the Lucanians, the Samnites, the Bruttians, revolted and put themselves under his protection. But the Latin colonies and the Greek cities generally remained loyal to Rome. The influence of Hannibal’s victory was also apparent outside of Italy. Syracuse transferred her allegiance from Rome to Carthage, and many other cities in Sicily threatened to revolt. The king of Macedonia, also made an alliance with Hannibal, and threatened to invade Italy to assist him. In the face of all discouragements, the Roman people, supported by the faithful Latin towns and colonies, remained firm; and with fixed resolution determined to prosecute the war with greater vigor than ever before, raising new armies with which to resist the invaders and to defend their country. Romans thought that the problem now seemed greater than ever before. The war had to be carried on, not only in Italy, but also to recover the revolted allies, in Spain, to prevent re-enforcements; in Sicily; and finally in Greece, to prevent the king of Macedonia from interfering in the affairs of Italy. A young Roman commander, called Scipios (came the nearest to being a Roman military genius), was sent to Spain, where he defeated Hannibal’s brother Hasdrubal. Meanwhile, Hannibal’s army met its first repulse in Campania. The Romans allied with the Aetolian cities of Greece and sent a few troops, were able to prevent Macedonia from giving any aid to Hannibal. Soon Syracuse was captured; while, Hannibal’s forces were weakened by the need …show more content…
In 202 B.C., the final battle of the war was fought near Zama. Hannibal fought at a great disadvantage. His own veterans were reduced greatly in number, and the new armies of Carthage could not be depended upon. In this battle Hannibal was defeated, and the Carthaginian army was annihilated.
The Second Punic war had ended, and in 201 B.C., Scipio had imposed the terms of peace: (1) Carthage was to give up the whole of Spain and all the islands between Africa and Italy; (2) Masinissa was recognized as the king of Numidia and the ally of Rome; (3) Carthage was to pay an annual tribute of 200 talents (about $250,000) for fifty years; (4) Carthage agreed not to wage any war without the consent of Rome.
At the end of the second Punic war, Rome was thus recognized as the power of the western Mediterranean. Carthage, although not reduced to a province, became a dependent state. Syracuse was added to the province of Sicily, and the territory of Spain was divided into two provinces, Hither and Farther Spain. Rome had, moreover, been brought into hostile relations with Macedonia, which paved the way for her conquests in the