Conquest of the Mediterranean

• Carthage was a North African city whose ships controlled most of the western Mediterranean sea. Its power and wealth came from its position at the centre of all the important trade routes
• It was not a very warlike state , but it did have territory in Spain and Sardinia, and controlled the island of Sicily
• It was over Sicily that Rome came in direct confrontation with Carthage. The first Punic war lasted 23 years ('Punic' was the Roman word for Carthaginian)
• When the war began, Rome had very little skill in naval warfare due to lack of experience. Despite this, Rome quickly built fleets of ships
• Rome defeated Carthage in a long series of sea battles around Sicily
• At that time, tactics for war at sea were similar to those on land. Soldiers would board the enemy's ships and fight on the deck
• The Romans invented a boarding bridge for this very purpose
• Rome defeated Carthage in 241 BC and won possession of Sicily, but the Carthaginians began planning a new attack on Rome from their base in Spain
• The Carthaginians launched a second war against Rome in 218 BC
• The leader of this force was Hannibal, a clever young general
• From Carthaginian territory in Spain, he marched his 26,000 troops and 38 elephants over the Alps into Italy
• He won many battles against the larger Roman army, including the famous battles of Trasimene and Cannae
• Hannibal's army formed alliances with Celtic tribes in the North of Italy, and some of Rome's former allies in the South
• Hannibal fought against the Romans for 16 years, causing fear and destruction. However, Roman forces began to take the upper hand under the leadership of General Quintus Fabius Maximus
• Without ever capturing Rome itself, Hannibal was forced to return to Carthage to defend it against a Roman counter-attack
• Hannibal was defeated by the Roman general Scipio at the battle of Zama in 202 BC. Carthaginian power was destroyed
• To make sure, Rome razed the city to the ground and massacred its inhabitants in 146 BC. Carthage became the Roman province of Africa, and Carthage territory in Spain also came under Roman control
• While Rome was fighting the second Punic war against Hannibal, it also came into conflict with countries in the East Mediterranean
• King Philip V of Macedonia formed an alliance with Hannibal and had ambitions to rule the Dalmation coast, Rome went to war with Philip's armies and won major victories in 197 BC
• Thirty years later, Rome defeated the armies of Philip's son, Perseus, and Macedonia was finally conquered 
• Rome went to war with Greece too, and destroyed the major city of Corinth
• After their defeat, Greece and Macedonia together became the Roman province of Achaea
• Another country in the area, Pergamum (today part of Turkey), became the Roman province of Asia when its king died and left his kingdom to Rome in his will
• At home in Italy too, Rome continued expanding its territory
• The Northern parts of Italy became the Roman province of Gallia Cisalpina ('Gaul-this-side-of-the-Alps') after the Celtic tribes were defeated

Summary:

• On which Continent was Carthage? Africa
• Why was it wealthy and powerful? It's position at the centre of  trade routes
• In what areas did Carthage control territory? Spain, Sardinia, the island of  Sicily
• Why did Rome come in conflict with Carthage? Over the control of Sicily
• Why were the wars called the Punic wars? It was the Roman word for Carthaginian
• From whom did Rome copy their ship building methods? The Carthaginians
• When did the Romans finally defeat the Carthaginians? What was their prize? Possession of Sicily in 241 BC
• What were the tactics of war at sea at the time? Board the opponent's ships and fight on the decks
• Who led the second Punic war against Rome? Hannibal
• What became so famous about his tactics of war? He had 38 elephants
• What alliances strengthened Hannibal's position against Rome? The Celtics in the North and  Rome's former allies
• What Roman general finally lead to Hannibal's defeat? Scipio
• Why was Hannibal forced to return to Carthage without capturing Rome? To defend against a Roman counter attack
• How did Rome finally ensure the defeat of Carthage? They razed the city to the ground and massacred the people in 146 BC
• With whom did Hannibal form an alliance in Macedonia? Philip
• In what year did Rome conquer Macedonia? 197 BC
• With what other great civilisation did Rome go to war in the East? Greece
• What is the modern Asia Minor country that was Pergamum? Turkey
• What areas were occupied by Rome by about 100 BC? Greece, Macedonia, Africa, Spain, Sardinia and Sicily