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Carthage had a large trading network around the western basin of the Mediterranean and also traded goods from this part of this sea to the eastern Mediterranean. Sicily was important to them because partly because of its strategic location. It lies between the western and eastern Mediterranean, which helps to control the routes between them. Tunisia, which is where Carthage was, also had a similar strategic position, but Sicily was further north and closer to Italy, southern France and the Balearic Islands. Carthage’s five ports in western Sicily also provided a link with Sardinia and Corsica, which belonged to Carthage. Moreover, Sicily had good agricultural land.
The importance of Sicily for the Romans at the outset of the war is not clear. The reasons for sending an army to Sicily are not clear either. Rome controlled central and southern Italy, including Calabria, which is next door and only two miles from Sicily. However she did not have trading networks around the western Mediterranean, hardly had a navy to speak of and did not look beyond Italy. Therefore, Sicily did not have a great strategic importance for them at that time. We are told that the senate was reluctant to get involved in Sicily. Many senators did not want to intervene to help the Mamertine mercenaries because they had seized the city of Messana (Messina) unlawfully and mistreated its population. The debate in the senate reached impasse. The matter was then passed to the vote of the assembly of the soldiers, which could vote on war and peace. It voted for war. We are not told clearly why. It has been speculated that the soldiers were keen on war booty or that commercial interests influenced the vote as Sicily had rich agricultural land. When Rome won the war it benefited from the island strategic position and her agricultural riches. By then it also had a large navy and she started to look beyond Italy.
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How long did the war between Rome and Carthage last?
Sparta was a city-state in Greece. It had nothing to do with Rome in Italy and Carthage in Tunisia.
Why do you think historians say that rome and Carthage were destined to fight each other?
They probably mean that when the Romans gained control of central and southern Italy, Rome and Carthage were destined to clash over the control of next door Sicily. The Carthaginians, who had possessions in western Sicily, mobilised for war in against Rome when she intervened militarily to support some mercenaries who had seized the city of Messana, in north-eastern Sicily, on the straight which separates the island from the mainland. These mercenaries had been attacked by Syracuse, the most powerful of the Greek city-states in eastern and southern Sicily. The Romans defeated Syracuse and forced her to become a Roman ally. The Carthaginians were worried about the security of their possessions in the west in the face of this combined power. There had been a friendly relationship between Rome and Carthage which signed three trade treaties. This broke down during the war against Pyrrhus, a Greek King who tried to invade southern Italy by fighting against Rome and, when he failed, went to Sicily and fought against the Carthaginians. The two sides had signed a treaty in which they were meant to help each other against Pyrrhus. Initially Carthage's fleet patrolled the sea between Sicily and Rome to keep an eye on Pyrrhus' fleet, which never reached this sea. When Pyrrhus went to Sicily Rome did not give ant help. The Carthaginians, in their turn, where happy when Pyrrhus left Sicily, returned to the mainland and fought the Romans again. He lost and left Italy, saying "What a battlefield I am leaving for Carthage and Rome!" After this war Rome took over Apulia the heel of Italy, and Calabria the toe of the peninsula, just two miles from Sicily. Carthage and Rome were now the superpowers of the western Mediterranean.
How did Rome defeat Carthage to become the ruler of the Mediterranean region?
By defeating Carthage, Rome gained control over the western basin of the Mediterranean. She did not gain control over the eastern Mediterranean.In the First Punic War (264-241 BC) Rome defeated Carthage in Sicily and gained control over Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia.In the Second Punic War (218-201 BC) Rome repelled an invasion of Italy by Hannibal, a Carthaginian general, and defeated the Carthaginians in southern Spain and took over their possessions there. Carthage was left with only her homeland territory (Tunisia and western Libya).Rome fought the Third Punic War (149-146 BC) because she wanted to destroy Carthage, which she did.Through three wars.
When did Rome fight three viscous wars with Carthage?
First Punic War occurred between 264 - 241 BC , the 2nd from 218 - 201 BC and the third Punic War lasted from 149 - 146 BC until the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC by the Roman commander Scipio Aemilianus .
Why did Rome engage Carthage in the Punic war in 264 bce?
The Middle East D: The Middle East The destruction of Carthage and Corinth in 146 BC is regarded as the year in which the Roman Republic began to die, thus paving the way for the Roman Empire. Carthage was Rome's main rival, and the Romans found themselves with more land than a republic could rule. Corinth was their exposure to Greek culture which they transferred to those conquered lands, including those once owned by Carthage. The Carthaginians had their own culture, and Greek culture would not have supplanted it without the defeat of Carthage by Rome.Rome fought three wars with Carthage. After the first war Rome gained control of Sicily. After the second war Rome gained control of Spain and Southern Gaul. After the third war Rome gained control of North Africa except for Egypt.Rome was still a republic at that time, not an empire.
Which war did Rome become an empire in which it acquired Sicily?
Rome acquired Sicily with her victory in the Second Punic War (264-41 BC) she fought against Carthage.
What Punic war began in 264 BC?
The First Punic War between Rome and Carthage over Sicily.
How many years was the Carthage involved in wars with the Greeks?
There was sporadic fighting over Carthage's attempt to control Sicily from 480 BCE, however this was replaced by Rome's move into the island in 264 BCE when the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage began.
Which islands did Rome win between 264 BC. and 146 BC?
During the Punic Wars Rome wrested control from Carthage of the islands of Sicily , Sardinia and Corsica .
What island did Carthage attempt to take over in 264 BC?
Sicily.
What statement is the most likely reason that beginning in 264 BCF Rome engaged Carthage in the Punic Wars?
Rome was expanding through Italy and aspired to move into Sicily. Carthage was also attempting to extend its grip on Sicily. This put the hitherto allies on a collision course, extending to a struggle for control of the Western Mediterranean.
What started the punic war?
The Romans were afraid of the Carthaginians, so, they set an army to Sicily in 264 B.C. The Carthaginians saw this as an act of war, because they considered Sicily part of their empire.
Which islands did Rome win between 264B.C and 146B.C.?
During the Punic Wars Rome wrested control from Carthage of the islands of Sicily , Sardinia and Corsica .
What year did Carthage and Rome go to war?
264 BCE.
Why do you think Carthage became Rome's rival?
Carthage and Rome became enemies when they fought over the control over Sicily in the First Punic war (264-241 BC). Carthage had territories in western Sicily. In eastern and southern Sicily there were Greek cities. The Greek city of Syracuse was the most powerful city in Sicily. The Romans sent troops to help the Mamertines, mercenaries who had seized the city of Messana (in the east, on the strait which separates Sicily form the mainland) had been attacked by Syracuse and asked Rome for help. The Romans besieged Syracuse and forced it to become a Roman ally. Worried about their position in Sicily, the Carthaginians mobilised for war.
What city-state did Rome come into conflict with after 264 BC?
Carthage
The Punic Wars between Carthage and Rome began?
In 264 BCE.
