Roman Expansion

Roman Legions

Legion can mean an army, or it can mean a group of about 5,o00 Roman soldiers.

Roman legions wore more armor, used larger shields and carried a gladius, or short sword

They performed very well against phalanx on uneven terrain or where manueveuring was important

Fought between Rome and Carthage over control of the Western Mediterranean and Sicily

Punic Wars

Primarily fought by navies Carthage was a naval

power. Rome was a land power. Rome lost most of the battles. Until they equipped ships

with grappling hooks and soldiers who boarded Carthaginian ships- turning it into a small land-battle.

Using this strategy Rome won.

1st Punic War

Carthaginian general Hannibal leads an army through Spain, France, and over the Alps and invades Italy from the north.

Over 10 years, he repeatedly defeats the Roman army, but does not attack the city of Rome

Roman army sails to North Africa, where it threatens to destroy Carthage. Hannibal returns to Carthage, and is defeated Rome does not destroy Carthage and fears it will rebuild and become a threat again

at the Battle of Zama.

Second Punic War

Carthage is ruined Loses all its empire to Rome Carthage is left only in

control of the city itself

Aftermath of 2nd Punic War

Rome does not destroy Carthage and fears it will rebuild and become a threat again.

Romans siege Carthage for 3 years under the general Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus Numantinus – Or, as his friends call him Scipio

Scipio burns Carthage to the ground, enslaves everyone, and pours salt on the ground to prevent anything from ever growing again!

(Don’t mess with Scipio)

Third Punic War

Rome gains an overseas empire- North Africa, Sicily, Spain

Rome has control of Western Mediterranean Expanded trade and wealth for Rome Rome continues expansion and conquers an

empire in Europe, Asia, and Africa These conquered areas called provinces

Results of the Punic Wars

Rome and its Allies

58-51 BC

246-146 BC

214-148 BC