Western Civilizaion

Running Head : Western Civilization

Western Civilization

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Name and describe the three phases of the Punic Wars

The three phases of the Punic Wars are the First Punic War (264-241 BC the Second Punic War (218-201 BC ) and the Third Punic War (149-146 BC The First Punic War was the result of increasing political and economic enmity between the Sicilian cities of Syracuse and Messana (present-day Messina . Although Carthage and Rome initially joined the war to help the Mammertines (the mercenaries that invaded

Messana , they ended up fighting each other over Sicily for 20 years . The Romans eventually won and made Sicily the first Roman province in 241 BC (Nelson , 2002

The Second Punic War began when Hannibal , the son of Hamilcar Barca invaded the Spanish city of Saguntum (one of Rome 's allies . Despite Hannibal 's two major victories at Lake Trasimeno and the town of Cannae the Carthaginians still lost the Second Punic War to the Romans in 202 BC . This defeat marked the end of Carthage as a great power ' - it was required to cede its territories (Spain and some islands in the Mediterranean , abolish its navy and pay Rome compensation (MSN Encarta 2008

Carthage quickly recovered from these harsh terms and went on to become a major economic power . Worried and envious over Carthaginian economic strength , Rome created a justification for declaring war by making its ally Numidia goad Carthage into attacking it in 151 BC . Carthage eventually surrendered to...