The Second Punic War:

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Carthiage after the first Punic war

a. Iberian Mercanaries
i. Fight their wars and were paid for through Iberian gold silver
ii. Boats made fro Iberian wood
iii. At end of first war couldnt pay their mercenaries so they were trying
to expand their power to access more riches to pay for army
iv. Hamilcar bara dedicated life to military conquests in this pursuit
v. His grandson became the chief commander in Spain Hannibal
The starts of war:
a. Saguntum
i. Hannibal capture this town
ii. Was supposed to be under the protection of rome
iii. Rome declare war
b. Hannibals begin of march
i. Surprise Rome by marching into Italy
ii. Destroy roman army at Trebia river December 218
iii. Never been done before
Advantages and disadvantages
a. Rome:
i. Most of advantages
ii. Sea power at end of the first punic war because stole the carthiagens
ideas
iii. Established self-main power of sea end of first war
1. This meant that could limit the amount of resources available to
Hannibal during their journey
iv. Men reserves far greater than those of hannibel
b. Carthiage
i. Hannibal may have been outnumbered and had limited resources
available to him but he had a plan in mind
ii. Offset Rome just enough to get allies of Rome to revolt and join forces
iii. Thought that Rome was so corrupt that it would be easy to get people
to switch sides.
1. This did happen to certain degree
2. Nowhere near the extent he thought Rome tolerant to other
cultures not so bad
3. Ex: Battle of Cannae: 216 consuls marched against Hannibal but
it proved to be a Roman disaster
4. Caused for allies to begin to change sides
a. Samnites
b. Some serve some supply
Key battles and strategies in the war:
a. Quintus Fabius Maximus
i. Nick name the delayer because of his unfavorable strategy as
appointed dictator
ii. Harresed hanibals army
iii. Only get in conformations that are favorable to rome
iv. Consuls 216 did not go with these wishes
v. IE the battle earlier discusses in Cannae
b. Cutting off Carthiage support
i. To stop the turn of allies began to attack cities that were disloyal to
Rome to enact fear on them.
ii. Too many at one time for Hanibebel to protect

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iii. Marcus Caludius Marcellus capture Syracuse in 213 and two years later
Capua fell
1. executed main officials
2. Majority of rest of population sent to slavery
c. Turning to deities for good fortune of Rome
i. Magistrates and senate look for signs to bring better fortune
ii. Intro new gods to the city to gain protection
iii. 205 Consult the Greek oracle Delphi to bring the Great Mother from
Asia to Rome
iv. Following year the black meteorite her symbol brought to Rome
v. However the worship was baize and some were prevented in the more
disturbing forms of cult
d. Second front changes it all
i. Opened second front in Spain prove to be the decisive turn of war.
ii. Publius Cornelius Scipio in command of Spanish
1. Captured Carthago Nova 209 chief center of carthiage power
iii. Furthermore was able to defeat hannibeals brother Hasdrubal
eliminating all hope of back up for Hannibal in Italy
1. All forces in Spain handled by Rome
iv. Scipio prepare to invade north Africa
1. Land in city of Utica and with Nubian ruler masinissa defeated
the carthagins
2. Summon Hannibal back
3. Abandoned troops in Italy
4. Battle of Zuma=Sciopo win
Provisions of Wars end:
a. 201 peace
b. Treaty cripple Carthaginian power
c. Surrender fleet, make payments to Rome, lost all territories, not allowed to
wage war without Roman permission
d. Reward to Masinissa for aid in Punic war expand Numbia

Why is this all so important? The war may have been a victory to the Roman, but it did not
mean that it did not take a great strain on them. In order to keep up with the demand of
people being deployed there were changes in the Roman society. Large male populations to
be drafted from all over, putting strains on original political alliances. To fill the ranks slaves
and criminals were used, which we will see in later history that they usually will prove to act
on their own motives rather than the good of the state. The senate would also be depleted
allowing people who were restricted from senate to be able to rule now. All in all, Rome
would emerge as the main central western power of the Mediterranean.