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HIST 1421 WA Unit 5

Carthage and Rome were two powerful ancient cities that came into conflict over influence in the Mediterranean region. While Carthage relied on its strong naval forces and trade networks, Rome focused on incorporating conquered territories through citizenship. This allowed Rome to build larger armies. Their rivalry led to the Punic Wars over several decades, as each sought to control the same territories like Sicily. Though different in their approaches, both cities demonstrated great strengths, setting the stage for their iconic clashes.

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325 views5 pages

HIST 1421 WA Unit 5

Carthage and Rome were two powerful ancient cities that came into conflict over influence in the Mediterranean region. While Carthage relied on its strong naval forces and trade networks, Rome focused on incorporating conquered territories through citizenship. This allowed Rome to build larger armies. Their rivalry led to the Punic Wars over several decades, as each sought to control the same territories like Sicily. Though different in their approaches, both cities demonstrated great strengths, setting the stage for their iconic clashes.

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Written Assignment Unit 5: Carthage and Rome

University of the People


HIST 1421: GREEK AND ROMAN CIVILIZATION

October 8, 2020
Carthage and Rome

Carthage was an ancient city on the northern shores of Africa, facing the Mediterranean Sea.

Carthage gained most of its influence and power thanks to its naval power; controlling a large

amount of ships for both military and trade purposes.

Its location on the Mediterranean made it a prime spot for trade between Sicily and the North

African coast. (Britannica, 1998)

Rivalry with Rome – two cities compared

Carthage and Rome had a very different style of battle, with Carthage possessing some of the

most modern and impressive warships and dominating the seas, and Rome innovating new

machinery and war implements on land. (Ancient Cities, 2014)

While their government system may have seemed similar, with both cities having two chief

magistrates (or consuls), a council of elders (senate) and an assembly, the main difference in

their politics was their treatment of their conquered cities. While Rome sorted its captured cities

into 3 categories: fully incorporated citizens, partially incorporated citizens, and subjects.

Carthage did not.

This method of either fully or partially incorporating its captured cities into Rome was part of

what made her stronger than Carthage. As allowing captured cities to participate in political life

would ensure loyalty, while enlisting them in the Roman army would ensure a growing strength

by numbers. (Morey, 1901)

However, Carthage had her own political advantage by appointing a permanent leader for the

army, usually a strong, capable military man who knew what he was doing. This gave the
Cartherigian army stability and strength. As a strong leader - means a strong army. As we later

see in the case of Hannibal.

Roman army on the other hand, was controlled by ever changing consuls, each who had their

own ideas, experience and different levels of military knowledge and ability. (Morey, 1901)

Carthage had earned her wealth and influence by trading, according to Morey (1901) “She had

grown wealthy and strong by buying and selling the products of the East and the West - the

purple of Tyre, the frankincense of Arabia, the linen of Egypt, the gold of Spain, the silver of the

Balearic Isles, the tin of Britain, and the iron of Elba. ”

Although Carthage did not have the alliance of her subject cities, as she did not incorporate them

as did Rome, but she did earn allies due to her trading capabilities in the region.

Equally strong, but in their own way, these two forces came to threaten each other’s power when

their journey of conquest led both to the same place.

The first Punic war began in Sicily with both Rome and Carthage trying to conquer the island.

Although Rome ended up having the upper hand in the fight to capture Messana and

Agrigentum, Carthage had managed to capture most of the coastal cities that Rome had come to

possess when the great Cartherigian naval ships arrived.

This made Rome realize that it wasn’t enough to meet Carthage on land, and that if they intended

to win this war and overpower Carthage- they will need to become equally as strong on the sea.

(Morey, 1901)

This realization was the beginning of Rome as a naval power.


Conclusion

Carthage and Rome, two vastly different cities with a vastly different approach to war, yet each

powerful in their own way.

These two great powers will come to dispute the surrounding land and fight for influence over

the area for the next 40+ years, with the first Punic war lasting 23 year, the second lasting 17 and

the 3rd yet another 3 years after a long break. (Britannica, 2017)

In the end of the day, their main strength can be seen as described by Morey (2019) “The

greatness of the Carthaginians was shown in their successes, while the greatness of the Romans

was most fully revealed in the dark hours of disaster and trial.”

Word count: 643 words


References:

 The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1998, Carthage: ancient city, Tunisia

Retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/place/Carthage-ancient-city-Tunisia

 Morey, W. C. (1901). Outlines of Roman history. Forum

Romanum. http://www.forumromanum.org/history/index.html

 Ancient Cities. (2014, June 12). Ancient Carthage & Hannibals war with the

Romans [Video]. YouTube. 

 Michael Ray, of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2017 Punic Wars: Carthage and Rome
[264 BCE–146 BCE] retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/event/Punic-Wars

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