#firstpunicwar

Hannibal’s War

The Second Punic War was one of the great struggles of the ancient world. Carthage and Rome fought from 218 to 201 BCE across Spain, Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, and North Africa. Hannibal led Carthage with brilliance, but Rome answered with Scipio Africanus, who brought the fight back to Carthage itself.

Key Facts

Fought: 218–201 BCE

Sides: Carthage vs. Rome

Leader of Carthage: Hannibal

Leader of Rome: Scipio Africanus

Battlefields: Spain, Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, and North Africa

Result: Rome won, and Carthage lost its place as a major Mediterranean power

Historical Context

The war came after Carthage had already lost the First Punic War. Hannibal became famous as one of history’s most skilled commanders, and his campaign made the conflict one of the most dramatic in ancient history. Even so, Rome’s strength grew, and Scipio Africanus eventually took the war to Carthage’s own territory.

Historical Significance

The Second Punic War changed the balance of power in the Mediterranean. Carthage suffered another crushing defeat, and its chance to remain a great rival to Rome slipped away. It would return for the Third Punic War about 50 years later, but this war marked the moment when Carthage’s long-term power was seriously broken.

Roman Naval Warfare

Military supremacy of the seas could be a crucial factor in the success of any land campaign, and the Romans well knew that a powerful naval fleet could supply troops and equipment to where they were most needed in as short a time as possible. Naval vessels could also supply beleaguered ports under enemy attack and, in turn, blockade ports under enemy control. A powerful navy was also indispensable to deal with pirates, who wreaked havoc with commercial sea-traders and even, on occasion, blockaded ports. Naval warfare had its own unique dangers, though, with adverse weather being the biggest threat to success, which is why naval campaigns were largely limited to between April and November.

Ships & Weapons

Ancient naval vessels were made of wood, water-proofed using pitch and paint, and propelled by both sail and oars. Ships with multiple levels of rowers, such as the trireme, were fast and manoeuvrable enough to attack enemy vessels by ramming. The largest ships were the quinqueremes, with three banks of rowers, two each for the upper two oars and one rower on the lower oar (around 300 in total). Ships could also be fitted with a platform via which marines could easily board enemy vessels - a device known as the corvus (raven). Built for speed, most warships were lightweight, cramped, and without room for storage or even a large body of troops. Such logistical purposes were better achieved using troop carrier vessels and supply ships under sail.

Aside from the bronze-covered battering ram below the waterline on the ship's prow, other weapons included artillery ballista which could be mounted on ships to provide lethal salvoes on enemy land positions from an unexpected and less protected flank or also against other vessels. Fireballs (pots of burning pitch) could also be launched at the enemy vessel to destroy it by fire rather than ramming.