What advantage did the Carthaginians have over the Romans? 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 temper of the Roman people was soon made manifest during a conflict which broke out between the Carthaginians and their discontented mercenaries. Carthaginian Warfare has been overshadowed by defeat to Rome in the Punic Wars, but for six centuries before that Carthage was remarkably successful in conquering lucrative territories in North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, and Sicily.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 . World History Encyclopedia. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. (252). Just like in any large city, there were all the professions needed for a thriving population with money to spend: teachers, doctors, architects, cooks, shopkeepers, cobblers, fishermen, scribes, chariot-makers, and so on. -yes This left Rome free to land a force on Corsica (259) and expel the Carthaginians but did not suffice to loosen their grasp on Sicily. 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. The second tactic, known as periplous, was to try and sail down the flanks of the enemy formation and attack from the sides and rear. The Mamertini appealed to both Rome and Carthage, and the Carthaginians, arriving first, occupied Messana and effected a reconciliation with Hieron. Hannibal escaped from the battle and went to his estates in the east near Hadrumetum for some time before he returned to Carthage. 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. Related Content The tophet at Carthage was known as the 'precinct of Tanit' and located to the south of the city at Salammbo. Even in Phoenician/Punic mythology, where the god El sacrifices his son Ieud, it is to save his country from collapse. After one campaign they were ready to sue for peace, but the terms which the Roman commander Marcus Atilius Regulus offered were intolerably harsh. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Troops were coordinated during battle using standards. They already had colonies on the island if Sicily and they had a navy. Who was the leader of the Carthaginians in the second Punic war and what did he do? Books why? -showed how they were unequal, but tried to be equal. 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. We also know that temples were off-limits to women and pigs, although there were some priestesses who served certain deities and their temples. Inscriptions on Punic stelae describe many temples to many different deities at Carthage, but unfortunately, very little remains of them exist in the archaeological record due to the destruction of the city by the Romans at the end of the Third Punic War in 146 BCE. Cartwright, Mark. Why, in ancient battles, did being encircled mean defeat? Carthaginian Society. That Hannibal was fighting from a position of weakness does not in any way diminish Scipios victory for Rome, however. In addition, the Carthaginians were not averse to equipping themselves with the arms and armour of their fallen enemies. Another, equally important role for armies was as an offensive means to expand the empire by taking control of new territories rich in natural resources such as the silver mines of Iberia. When the Carthaginian flagship was captured, the commander was forced to ignominiously flee in a rowing boat. 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. World History Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. Artillery was a component of Carthaginian armies in Sicily where the cities were well-fortified. License. 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. Several commanders, following defeat, committed suicide to avoid the latter penalty. We know that Carthage itself was equipped with artillery machines for defence. Please support World History Encyclopedia. -they dont want rome to fall apart or house enemies, they need to be convicted in a court of law first. Nevertheless, its commercial enterprises expanded rapidly in the 2nd century bce, exciting the envy of Romes growing mercantile community. Their loyalty, rather, was expected and received in times of dire stress during the Second Punic War and the siege of Carthage in the Third Punic War when slaves were granted their freedom in return for military service. The Carthaginian council upheld Hannibals action and drew upon itself a declaration of war. "Carthaginian Religion." To avoid the threat that successful mercenary armies rebelled against the ruling elite of Carthage, the Carthaginians made sure that all senior and middle command positions were held by citizens of Carthage. Such a large geographical spread of interests required a naval fleet to safeguard both the ships which plied their trade across the seas and the ports which gave them protection and access to lucrative hinterlands. Carthage was founded by the Phoenician city of Tyre in the 9th century BCE, and along with many other cultural practices, the city adopted aspects of the religion of its founding fathers. Mark is a full-time author, researcher, historian, and editor. This was an elite group of 2,500-3,000 infantry soldiers identified by their white shields and known as the Sacred Band. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. Cartwright, M. (2016, June 16). It was outside the temples that ceremonies were carried out such as prayers, burning incense, and making offerings to the gods at a specially dedicated altar. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. Mago, who had sustained battle wounds during a losing engagement in Liguria (near Genoa), died at sea during the crossing. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Military of Carthage - Wikipedia 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. World History Encyclopedia. According to the ancient historians Clitarch and Diodorus, a hearth was set before a bronze statue of the god Baal (or El), who had outstretched arms on which the victim was placed before falling into the fire. Catapults could be mounted on the deck of these large vessels but were probably limited to siege warfare and not used in ship-to-ship battles. The questions will require you to make decisions regarding the revision of the reading selection. Express the thought of each sentence below in no more than four words. 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. 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. Hannibal, for example, went one step further than his father Hamilcar Barca (who had used such imagery on his coins) and identified himself as Hercules-Melqart, the figure who was a mix of the invincible Greek hero and the Phoenician-Punic god. Strongly linked to Baal and considered the consort of Baal Hammon, she was commonly referred to as 'Tanit face of Baal' (Tnt pn B'l) and represented in inscriptions, mosaics, pottery, and stelae as a symbol (a triangle with a straight line and circle above it) seemingly representing a stylised female figure with arms outstretched. The great general Hamilcar Barca was particularly successful in Spain in the 230s BCE. Tophet of CarthageDennis Jarvis (CC BY-SA). Simply by investing heavily in warships, the Romans took the latter advantage away. These conquests aroused the suspicions of Rome, which in a treaty with Hasdrubal confined the Carthaginians to the south of the Ebro. 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. War could not be conducted without divine sanction. While all this chaotic ramming was going on, smaller vessels were used to haul stricken ships away from the battle lines or even to tow away captured vessels. Most Carthaginian gods were inherited from the Phoenicians, but these were adapted, and their names and functions evolved over time. The Carthaginian North: Semitic influence on early Germanic. The battle took place at a site identified by the Roman historian Livy as Naraggara (now Sqiyat Sd Ysuf, Tunisia). World History Encyclopedia. The most notorious example of this, recounted by the ancient historian Diodorus, was when Agathocles, the tyrant of Syracuse, invaded North Africa in 310 BCE. 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. Some 20,000 Carthaginians died in the battle, and perhaps 20,000 were captured, while the Romans lost about 1,500 dead. 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. The Roman Republic Flashcards | Chegg.com Submitted by Mark Cartwright, published on 16 June 2016. As with many other aspects of the Carthaginian religion, though, we do not know any precise details and we are left wondering what that life entailed or how a person could assure they ever got there. 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. Carthage | History, Location, & Facts | Britannica The victim's ashes were then placed in an urn topped with a stone. What African king took over Italy? World History Publishing is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. 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. World History Encyclopedia, 16 Jun 2016. 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? In fact, Rome didn't have a navy at all. 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. This Roman-Carthaginian alliance against Pyrrhus caused him great trouble as he had to both fend off the Roman army and the Carthaginian navy. The Roman commander, nevertheless, persisted in throwing troops into the city, and, by seizing the Carthaginian admiral during a parley, induced him to withdraw. The cavalry slammed into Hannibal's rear, forcing a decisive end to a brutal battle. These had two large columns, one either side of the entrance which led to three chambers within which was not a representation of the god but a large bronze bowl with an eternal flame. The head of the priests (rb khnm) was also a member of the Senate and the influential Council of 104. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The inherent weaknesses in the Carthaginian army - disparate groups of sometimes disloyal mercenaries, confused command structures, and an over-reliance on heavy infantry and war elephants - meant that Carthage was, ultimately, unable to maintain its position as a Mediterranean superpower and keep pace with mighty Rome. Why did Carthage want Sicily? - Heimduo 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. Some of Scipios Roman forces were reinvigorated veterans from Cannae who sought redemption from that disgraceful defeat. Citizens were organised into memberships (mizrehim) or family clubs which were distinguishable from each other via their devotion to a specific god, the profession of their members, or perhaps even composed of those who had fought together in battle. Indeed, this was a criticism of Aristotle when commentating on Carthage that such a preoccupation with wealth would lead inevitably to a self-interested oligarchy dominating society. Punic Wars | Summary, Causes, Battles, & Maps | Britannica View Hannibal's campaign against Rome with the siege of Saguntum, The interval between the First and Second Punic Wars (241218, https://www.britannica.com/event/Punic-Wars, Humanities LibreTexts Library - The Punic Wars, UNRV History - The Punic Wars and Expansion, Khan Academy - Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage, Punic Wars - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). We want people all over the world to learn about history. Punic Stele with Goddess TanitCarole Raddato (CC BY-NC-SA). what was the perspective of the author in the twelve tables? (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. What disadvantages did Rome have when fighting the Carthaginians? As the two armies approached each other, the Carthaginians unloosed their 80 elephants into the ranks of the Roman infantry, but the great beasts were soon dispersed and their threat neutralized. Read the following passage and then choose the best revision for the underlined portions of the paragraph. Corrections? Once his allies had arrived, Scipio had about the same number of troops as Hannibal (around 40,000 men), but his 6,100 cavalrymen, led by the Numidian ruler Masinissa and the Roman general Gaius Laelius, were superior to the Carthaginian cavalry in both training and quantity. Citizenship was reserved for males indigenous to Carthage and gave the right to participate in the popular assembly of the city. Related Content 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. Carthage Who was Hannibal and what did he do? Ancient Carthage. From the 6th century BCE, stelae were dedicated to Baal or Tanit and placed on top of the urns instead of stones. "Carthaginian Warfare." The most important Carthaginian deity was Melqart, patron and protector of the city of Tyre and perhaps given a similar role in early Carthage. Create your account. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. stable before this time, with Carthage being most powerfull, the romans wanted more power and recognition, so they used war to get this. What does Kennedy state are the two main reasons immigrants come to the United States? Cartwright, Mark. The failure of the elephant charge can likely be explained by a trio of factors, with the first two being well documented and most important. While this was the Romans only naval defeat in the war, their fleet had suffered a series of grievous losses by storm, and now it was so reduced that the attack upon Sicily had to be suspended. Yes, you're reading this right. 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. Web. There were female priests, but once again, the details of initiation and duties of the priestly class remain unknown. However, the scheme of preparing for a fresh conflict found a worthy champion in Hamilcar Barca. The Romans now directed their efforts once more against Sicily. how did Hannibal and his troops get to Italy? Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 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. How The Romans Beat The Best Navy Of The Time 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. A committee of 10 senators was responsible for state religious matters. To avoid complete humiliation Carthage had no resource but to humiliate its adversary. crossing the alps with 40,000men and 37 elephants, almost all died. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. At Mylae (Milazzo), off the north Sicilian coast, their admiral Gaius Duilius defeated a Carthaginian squadron of superior maneuvering capacity by grappling and boarding. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The Carthaginians, whose citizen levy was utterly disorganized, could neither keep the field against the invaders nor prevent their subjects from revolting. Undoubtedly, there were large estate owners in Carthaginian lands beyond the city proper, but property was not the exclusive ticket to power that it was in other ancient cultures. This answer is: 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. The situation is made more complex by the sometimes indiscriminate use of Greek and Latin names by ancient writers of those cultures when describing Carthage's religious practices, not to mention their bias against foreign practices. "Carthaginian Religion." Special interests include art, architecture, and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. What advantages did the Carthaginians have? Cite This Work While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Carthage's many advantages meant that Carthage was the capital of a prosperous coastal empire that dominated the western Mediterranean. 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. Please support World History Encyclopedia. who did the romans fight against in the punic wars? Tanit came to prominence only from the 5th century BCE at Carthage, but she would eventually supersede Melqart and Baal Hammon in importance. Living an austere life and with distinctive shaved heads, the majority of their positions were hereditary. Why were the carthaginians so powerful? He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the WHE Publishing Director. Definition. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Not large enough to carry a superstructure (howdah), the type of elephant used by Carthage may have permitted a second rider armed with a bow or javelins. Special interests include art, architecture, and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. 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. Historians, such is the lack of clarity on the specifics of Phoenician and Carthaginian gods, continue to discuss his association or even equivalence to Melqart and the Phoenician god El. 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. Polytheistic in nature, such important Phoenician gods as Melqart and Baal were worshipped in the colony alongside new ones such as Tanit. So too, after the battle, victories were celebrated with more sacrifices and conquests were recorded on tablets and stelae set up at Punic temples. Priests would have enjoyed a high status as they performed rituals and sacrifices (both animal and human) in honour of the Punic gods. They did not have a navy and had no experience in fighting on the sea What innovation helped the Romans fight sea battles? if you were a roman citizen reading this description, how would you feel? Cartwright, Mark. 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. if you were an emperor thinking about going to war against rome, how might this description make you feel? Their numbers advantage was lost because the Carthaginians limited their frontage as they enveloped them, and their advantage as heavily armed and armoured infantry was also negated by being compressed into such a small area. Thousands of examples survive of these votive markers and are powerful evidence that the Carthaginian religion was practised by all levels of society. World History Encyclopedia. By a magnificent effort on the part of private citizens a fleet of 200 warships was equipped and sent out to renew the blockade of Lilybaeum. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. Updates? I would be disappointed that our armies were to scared to try to control carthage, so they had to destroy carthage and all of their people. Hannibal 01 May 2023. 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. what advantages did the carthaginians have? Less skilled workers but no less important to the city's industry were the dockworkers, porters, and sailors. Cite This Work Why did Sicily cause conflict between Rome and Carthage? From this episode it became clear that Rome intended to use the victory to the utmost. In the founding legend of Carthage, Dido (Elissa), the queen who fled from Tyre, picked up the High priest of Astarte in Cyprus on her way to North Africa, promising him that he and his descendants would hold the position of High Priest in the new city. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. Some dedications were jointly inscribed with a father and daughter's names. There were cases of slaves becoming free, even if their new status is unlikely to have ever given them equal rights to ordinary citizens. A gross breach of the treaty was perpetrated when a Roman force was sent to occupy Sardinia, whose insurgent garrison had offered to surrender the island (238).
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