Unlike in Greek city-states, most citizens were not expected to perform military service either in peacetime or war. Secondand perhaps even more vital to the outcomeScipio had arranged his forces in maniples (small, flexible infantry units) with broad alleys between them. Priests made themselves even more distinguished by painting themselves with red ochre during ceremonies. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. World History Publishing is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. We care about our planet! In 251 or 250 the Roman general Lucius Caecilius Metellus at last brought about a pitched battle near Panormus in which the enemys force was effectively crippled. so that all people, no matter the social class, could be treated equally, no, they treat slaves with lesser value, so there is not total equality. Special interests include art, architecture, and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. Scipios cavalry then charged the opposing Carthaginian cavalry on the wings; the latter fled and were pursued by Masinissas forces. No doubt the appearance and noise of elephants caused panic amongst the enemy's men and horses, but they were wildly unpredictable in battle and could cause as much damage to their own side as the opposition. Cartwright, M. (2016, July 06). Scipio may have been curious to meet Hannibal, but he refused the proposed terms, stating that Carthage had broken the truce and would have to face the consequences. World History Encyclopedia, 13 Jul 2016. The last and decisive battle of the Second Punic War, it effectively ended both Hannibals command of Carthaginian forces and also Carthages chances to significantly oppose Rome. The general may often have had complete autonomy of action or, on other occasions, had to rely on the Carthaginian government for such important decisions as when to hold a truce, sue for peace, or withdraw. Updates? In 147, however, the command was given to Scipio Aemilianus, the adopted grandson of the former conqueror of Carthage. They besieged and captured the Carthaginian base at Agrigentum in 262 but made little impression upon the Carthaginian fortresses in the west of the island and upon the towns of the interior. The Carthaginians had the advantage in skill and numbers at sea. There are also tales of prisoners being executed en masse, sometimes imaginatively as in one case where elephants were used to trample the unarmed captives. By the year 203 Carthage was in great danger of attack from the forces of the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio, who had invaded Africa and had won an important battle barely 20 miles (32 km) west of Carthage itself. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the WHE Publishing Director. which regions of the Mediterranean did Carthage control? https://www.worldhistory.org/Carthaginian_Warfare/. Hannibal arrived too late to prevent Masinissa from joining up with Scipio, leaving Scipio in a position to choose the battle site. Working for their livelihoods this class would have included women, slaves, and foreigners, as well as male citizens. Priestess of Isis on a Carthaginian Sarcophagus LidPre Delattre (Public Domain). The rewards of military victory for Carthage were control of new territories with their natural resources, acquisition of slaves, sometimes the incorporation of parts of the defeated army into their own, and the state treasuries and granaries of conquered cities. Hannibal, he gathered 46,000 men, many horses, and 37 elephants. Demeter and Persephone (Kore) were especially popular and were incorporated into the Punic pantheon following a series of military disasters which the Carthaginians ascribed to their unwise destruction of the goddesses' temple at Syracuse in 396 BCE. Accordingly they equipped a new army in which, by the advice of a Greek captain of mercenaries named Xanthippus, cavalry and elephants formed the strongest arm. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). World History Encyclopedia, 06 Jul 2016. He had trained his men to move to the side when the elephants charged, locking their shields and facing the alleys as the elephants passed by. They did not have Carthage's wealth or intercontinental . This brutality did sometimes serve a political purpose for canny generals could then seem especially generous when they treated the defeated well, they could encourage enemy cities to capitulate without much bloodshed and avoid the same fate and, perhaps not least, persuade their own troops of what they could expect in retaliation themselves from the enemy if they were captured, and so they became even more motivated to fight well. (like the persian emipire) its how the earth balances itself out, writing and publicly displaying laws (twelve tables), republican government, but the plebeians demanded it. if you were a historian researching what life was like for people living in the roman republic, would you consider the twelve tables a reliable source? The Mamertini, a band of Campanian mercenaries, had forcibly established themselves within the town and were being hard pressed in 264 by Hieron II of Syracuse. Carthaginian MercenariesThe Creative Assembly (Copyright). In 254 they captured the important fortress of Panormus (Palermo), but when Carthage threw reinforcements into the island the war again came to a standstill. Cartwright, M. (2016, July 13). Temples were built in their honour, ceremonies were overseen by a priestly class, sacrifices were made to appease them, and their imagery appeared on ships, coins, and in the arts. Of his three battle lines, only his seasoned veterans from Italy (between 12,000 to 15,000 men) were accustomed to fighting Romans; they were positioned at the rear of his formation. This is similar to the percentage at other tophets such as on Tharros. Carthage resisted the Roman siege for two years. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. Scipio, for his part, marched up the Bagradas (Majardah) River toward Carthage, seeking a decisive battle with the Carthaginians. The survivors were sold into slavery, the city was razed, and the territory was made a Roman province under the name of Africa. The defending ships would try not to create any gaps in their formation and perhaps stagger their lines to counter the diekplous. There was a small elite Carthaginian army known as the Sacred Band and composed of 2,000 hoplites, but most of the city's military requirements were met by mercenary armies. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. Third Punic War, also called Third Carthaginian War, (149146 bce), third of three wars between the Roman Republic and the Carthaginian (Punic) Empire that resulted in the final destruction of Carthage, the enslavement of its population, and Roman hegemony over the western Mediterranean. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Corrections? C. paid soldiers to force the Carthaginians out of the city. Up to the 3rd century BCE war chariots were used, but their limitation of requiring good terrain saw their eventual abandonment in favour of more mobile cavalry. Several commanders, following defeat, committed suicide to avoid the latter penalty. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. At Mylae (Milazzo), off the north Sicilian coast, their admiral Gaius Duilius defeated a Carthaginian squadron of superior maneuvering capacity by grappling and boarding. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/908/carthaginian-society/. Not just trading middle-men, the Carthaginians produced their own manufactured goods and so the city had a large number of pottery, glass, and metal workshops (producing weapons, jewellery, and everyday items), dyers, carpenters, and construction workers. The Roman fleet of 145 ships defeated the Carthaginian fleet of 130 ships which had not even bothered to form battle lines, so confident were they of victory against the untested Roman sailors. The Roman Republic's biggest disadvantage was their lack of a strong navy and naval firepower. Read the following passage and then choose the best revision for the underlined portions of the paragraph. Second Punic War, also called Second Carthaginian War, second (218-201 bce) in a series of wars between the Roman Republic and the Carthaginian (Punic) empire that resulted in Roman hegemony over the western Mediterranean. Despite the importance of such goddesses as Tanit/Astarte in the Carthaginian religion and the myth of the city's founding by Queen Dido (Elissa), women were not granted citizenship and so could not participate in the political life of the city. Cartwright, Mark. Nevertheless, its commercial enterprises expanded rapidly in the 2nd century bce, exciting the envy of Romes growing mercantile community. World History Encyclopedia. After one campaign they were ready to sue for peace, but the terms which the Roman commander Marcus Atilius Regulus offered were intolerably harsh. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the WHE Publishing Director. The only noteworthy feature of the ensuing campaigns is the skillful guerrilla war waged by a new Carthaginian commander, Hamilcar Barca, from his strong positions on Mt. The larger workshops would have employed both citizens and slaves for their workforce. The besiegers met with a gallant resistance and in 249 were compelled to withdraw by the loss of their fleet in a surprise attack upon Drepanum, in which the admiral Publius Claudius Pulcher was repulsed with a loss of 93 ships. Although the Carthaginians consented to make reparation by giving 300 hostages and surrendering their arms, they were goaded into revolt by the further stipulation that they must emigrate to some inland site at least 10 miles (16 km) from the sea, making impossible the commerce by sea that drove the citys economy. which regions of the Mediterranean did Rome and its allies control? Before the battle, Hannibal and Scipio met personally, possibly because Hannibal, perceiving that battle conditions did not favour him, hoped to negotiate a generous settlement. Cartwright, Mark. This appealed to both Carthaginians and Greeks. -the laws showed the internal flaws of the government Wiki User. what was the relationship between the carthaginians and romans before 260 bce? These could take the form of the pouring of libations, food offerings, flowers, animal sacrifice (bulls, lambs, poultry, birds etc. This was primarily achieved by a cult of personality. Further, on closer inspection, it is notable that all of the literary references to human sacrifice suggest that it was necessary only in times of great danger to the state such as wars, plagues, and natural disasters, and was not an everyday practice. Child sacrifice did occur at Carthage, as it did in many other ancient cultures, but the physical evidence of the scale of such a practice does not seem to match the long-held infamous reputation the Phoenicians and Carthaginians have suffered from since antiquity. War could not be conducted without divine sanction. When not involved in head-to-head battles to break up formations and harass the enemy's flanks, the cavalry units were used to ambush enemy troops, lead them into ambush by infantry troops, or in guerrilla tactics to constantly harass enemy armies and their logistical support. Priests may have controlled education, of which we know very little, and also the libraries we know existed at the time of Carthage's destruction in 146 BCE. Third, the loud shouts and blaring trumpets of the Romans may have disconcerted the elephants, some of which swerved to the side early in the battle and instead attacked their own infantry, causing chaos on the front line of Hannibals recruits. Carthage's military also allowed it to expand into Sardinia and . Just how many slaves were at Carthage can only be guessed at as richer citizens would have had many and poor citizens probably not even one. The Phoenician Religion, as in many other ancient cultures, was Utica (also Utique), 33km north of Tunis, was the first Phoenician Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. The more successful commanders not only possessed the military skills to exploit the unique situations of individual battles and the weaknesses of their enemies but also the ability to mould their own mercenary fighting force into a homogenous unit. The victim's ashes were then placed in an urn topped with a stone. As Carthage employed mercenaries, one of the first priorities after a victory was to pay them, and this was done with coinage or by allowing the soldiers to take any booty they could get their hands on from the defeated weapons, armour, jewellery, foodstuffs, and so on. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Hannibal escaped from the battle and went to his estates in the east near Hadrumetum for some time before he returned to Carthage. The Western Mediterranean 264 BCEJon Platek (CC BY-SA). Thus, he could field only about 4,000 cavalry, the bulk of them from a minor Numidian ally named Tychaeus. Indeed, the colonists were obliged to send annual tribute - one-tenth of their annual profits - to the temple of Melqart at Tyre for the first few centuries of the colony's existence. Who was the leader of the Carthaginians in the second Punic war and what did he do? Some urns were buried in shaft tombs and the dedicated sacred open space for these urns was surrounded by walls and known as a tophet. This is because most of it was in perishablestextiles, unworked metal, foodstuffs, and slaves; its trade in manufactured goods was only a part of the whole. This answer is: The most important goddess was Tanit, who represented a mother goddess, life, & fertility. Nevertheless, despite this precaution, in several instances mercenary armies would prove to be disloyal and even cause in-fighting between the rival clans of Carthage's aristocracy, most famously during the Truceless War (aka Mercenary War, 241-237 BCE). In the ancient world, the Phoenicians and Carthaginians earned a bloody reputation for frequent child sacrifice, but some historians have questioned the scale of this practice. One of the goddess' priestesses is depicted on a stunning marble sarcophagus lid from the St. Monique tomb. The larger ships were decked and would have carried complements of armed men, both archers and marines armed with spears, javelins, and swords, who could board enemy vessels given the opportunity. World History Publishing is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. Cartwright, Mark. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. 12,000 Romans were killed against 800 Carthaginians. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Priests may have controlled education, of which we know very little, and also the libraries we know existed at the time of Carthage's destruction in 146 BCE. In later sculpture, she is most often portrayed with a lion's head and wings, and a second symbol of her is the bottle shape prevalent on votive stelae. There were probably as many temples at Carthage as at the contemporary cities of Rome and Athens. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. The proximate cause of the first outbreak was a crisis in the city of Messana (Messina), commanding the straits between Italy and Sicily. The city's population at its peak was somewhere around 400,000, and the international blend of skills and cultures was a recipe for success which led Roman writers to describe Carthage as the richest city in the world. Hannibal was a military leader from Carthage. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Carthaginian_Religion/. In addition, after a battle or war, the commanders were subjected to a tribunal which investigated their competence or otherwise. Oarsmen were expected to fight in landing operations and help build siege engines but not in ship-to-ship battles. World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. Last modified June 16, 2016. Ancient sources agree that Carthage had become perhaps the richest city in the world through its trade, yet few traces of its wealth have been discovered by archaeologists. Please select which sections you would like to print: Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. When enemy forces became used to them and trained their horses not to panic or if the terrain was unsuitable, then their effectiveness was greatly reduced. We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team's carbon footprint. Such memberships regularly bonded through shared banquets. In 202 BCE, the Roman general Scipio Africanus famously defeated the great Hannibal and his elephants at the Battle of Zama in western Tunisia. Baal Hammon ('lord of the altars of incense') was another important god, inspired by the Baal who was supreme god at the Phoenician city of Sidon. The quinquereme, so called for its arrangement of five rowers per vertical line of three oars (a total of 300 rowers), became the most widely used in the Punic fleet. There were also contingents of slingers and archers. Just how this might have been achieved is not known. In 255, under Xanthippus command, they offered battle to Regulus, who had taken up position with an inadequate force near Tunis, outmaneuvered him, and destroyed the bulk of his army. The urns themselves were often recycled pots and jars from as far afield as Corinth and Egypt and so provide an interesting and valuable record of Mediterranean trade. The cavalry slammed into Hannibal's rear, forcing a decisive end to a brutal battle. Polytheistic in nature, such important Phoenician gods as Melqart and Baal were worshipped in the colony alongside new ones such as Tanit. Although both countries were comparable in military power and economic strength the two nations had different military advantages: Carthage had a strong naval power while Rome had almost no naval power, but had a stronger ground force. "Carthaginian Warfare." One of the best corps in the Carthaginian army was the cavalry force of their allies, the Numidians. It must also be mentioned, though, that the Carthaginians had a healthy respect for genealogy and political leaders were often recorded with not only their own names but also those of several previous generations. The Carthaginians accordingly opened negotiations and consented to a peace by which they ceded Sicily and the Lipari (Eolie) Islands to Rome and paid an indemnity of 3,200 talents. We care about our planet! Here issues of the day were discussed and proposals from the Senate approved or sometimes even rejected. The battle took place at a site identified by the Roman historian Livy as Naraggara (now Sqiyat Sd Ysuf, Tunisia). Because Hannibal could not transport the majority of his horses from Italy, he was forced to slaughter them to keep them from falling into Roman hands. Carthaginian Religion. World History Encyclopedia. "Carthaginian Society." Ercte (247244) and Mt. Phoenician/Punic Necklace with AmuletsCarole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA). They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. World History Encyclopedia. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Best Answer. They lived in the large residential areas of the city in tightly-packed modest homes built of adobe brick, some even multi-storied (up to six floors) to house several families. Carthage Under SiegeThe Creative Assembly (Copyright). We know, for example, that Hannibal released non-Roman enemy troops on several occasions to increase the chances of local areas revolting against Rome. Then there were the artists who produced goldwork, sculptures, and fine glassware. The great general Hamilcar Barca was particularly successful in Spain in the 230s BCE. National Geographic Societys Expedition Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. Special interests include art, architecture, and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. In addition, a land army was sometimes required in order to defend Carthage's trading interests from local tribes and rival powers, especially the tyrants of Sicily and later Rome. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. Thedesigns\underline{\text{The designs}}Thedesigns of various colored stripes crossing at right angles is rightfully a tartan; many a plaid is a tartan design. "Hamilcar barca", means they could strike fast and attack from anywhere without warning. The first and second Punic wars (264241 bce and 218201 bce) had effectively deprived Carthage of its political power. Religious ceremonies could also take place at natural features like rivers and springs as these were often held as sacred by the Carthaginians. It was the battle which would end the Second Punic War and, effectively, Carthage's position as a major power. from Libya and Tunisia) and mercenary armies from Greece, Iberia, Southern Italy, and Gaul. Foreigners in the city came from the original founding city of Tyre in Phoenicia, from the conquered areas of North Africa (especially Libya and Numidia), Spain, Italy, and Sardinia. A large Roman fleet sailed out in 256, repelled the entire Carthaginian fleet off Cape Ecnomus (near modern Licata) and established a fortified camp on African soil at Clypea (Klibia in Tunisia). Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. World History Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. Attempts to ram enemy ships could be made in two ways. From the 6th century BCE, stelae were dedicated to Baal or Tanit and placed on top of the urns instead of stones. In the years after the First Punic War, Rome wrested Corsica and Sardinia from Carthage and forced Carthaginians to pay an even greater indemnity than the payment exacted . Some revisions are not of actual mistakes, but will improve the clarity of the writing. He landed his forces in Spain and the Marched east to attack Italy. World History Encyclopedia. Artillery was a component of Carthaginian armies in Sicily where the cities were well-fortified. In fact, Rome didn't have a navy at all. The Carthaginians are one of history's greatest what-if civilizations. High ranking priests and priestesses were specifically assigned to serve the goddesses. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. why were both Carthage and Rome wanting to control the mediterranean? By combining the finest mercenary armies with their own elite forces and huge naval fleet, Carthage was able to dominate the western Mediterranean and protect and expand its vast network of colonies and trading posts from the 9th to 3rd centuries BCE. In 219 Hannibal laid siege to Saguntum and carried the town in spite of a stubborn defense. There were female priests, but once again, the details of initiation and duties of the priestly class remain unknown. They didn't revolt. https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Zama-Roman-Carthaginian-history. In addition to utilizing 80 war elephants that were not fully trained, Hannibal was also compelled to rely mostly upon an army of Carthaginian recruits that lacked much battle experience. What would have happened if they and not the Romans had risen to prominence and come to dominate the whole of the The absence of a large citizen army which had raised the collective political consciousness of citizens in other states such as those in Greece was, perhaps, another reason for the Carthaginians' seeming lack of interest in political power. A committee of 10 senators was responsible for state religious matters. In addition, the Carthaginians were not averse to equipping themselves with the arms and armour of their fallen enemies. Besides two slave revolts at the beginning and middle of the 4th century BCE, when slaves joined the rebel Libyans and then the Carthaginian leader Hanno in wider uprisings, there is no mention of any other unrest over the centuries. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. What African king took over Italy? Perhaps Carthage's most shocking naval loss was their very first sea engagement with Rome at the battle of Mylae (Milazzo) in 260 BCE. -showed how they were unequal, but tried to be equal. This meant that enterprising individuals, able to exploit the market conditions of the city where goods were imported, exported, and manufactured or cultivated on site, or those who were able to fund their own private trading expeditions to such rich lands of opportunity as Sicily and Spain, could rise to the very top of society and politics. Punic Stele with Goddess TanitCarole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA). stable before this time, with Carthage being most powerfull, the romans wanted more power and recognition, so they used war to get this. While Pyrrhus was still fighting battles in Sicily and facing heavy losses, he received information from Tarentum that it was difficult to defend the city on their own and that they needed assistance. As the armies of Carthage were usually composite groups of foreign mercenary forces; their weapons and armour differed depending on the unit's origin or preferences. It was a handy propaganda tool with Greek contingents in the Carthaginian army and when fighting in such places as Magna Graecia where the cult was as strong as anywhere. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. Conclusively ending the Second Punic War with a decisive Roman victory, the Battle of Zama must be considered one of the most important battles in ancient history. At some point also Rome entered into relations with Saguntum (Sagunto), a town on the east coast, south of the Ebro. One of the most important Punic deities that were not worshipped in Phoenicia was Tanit (Tnt), although she may have been considered an attendant of Astarte there. However, by that time the legionnaires had become nearly exhaustedand they had yet to close with the third line, which consisted of Hannibals veterans from his Italian campaign (i.e., his best troops). Thousands of examples survive of these votive markers and are powerful evidence that the Carthaginian religion was practised by all levels of society. are there any other examples to support his claim? By 265 B.C., Carthage was the wealthiest and most advanced city in the region, as well as its leading naval power. Although both countries were comparable in military power and economic strength the two nations had different military advantages: Carthage had a strong naval power while Rome had almost no naval power, but had a stronger ground force. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. The Roman infantry legions then advanced and attacked Hannibals infantry, which consisted of three consecutive lines of defense. License. That caused the elephants to run unimpeded through the lines with little, if any, engagement. Some women's names crop up as inscriptions on religious dedications where they are referenced to by either their husband's or father's name. In dire moments sacrifices were also made in a last ditch effort to avoid defeat. More certain is that the Carthaginian religion continued, beyond the Roman destruction of the city, to be practised, sometimes under different names, perhaps more clandestinely than previously, but very often at the same temple sites as before. a war might begin, due to them each wanting the territory. Baal had many other incarnations, or perhaps even separate deities under that name: Baal Iddir, Baal Marqod, Baal Oz, Baal Qarnem, Baal Sapon, and Baal Shamin. 2012-10-12 03:41:26. Learn about the history of Hannibal and his ultimate defeat at the battle of Zama. Carthage Who was Hannibal and what did he do? Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Related Content (1) Huge population (2) Huge navy (3) Wealthy from taxes and tribute (4) Employed mercenaries. Citizenship was reserved for males indigenous to Carthage and gave the right to participate in the popular assembly of the city.
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