The results of the First Punic War is the reason the Second Punic War came about. A few years after the first war Carthage figured out that Rome wanted to control the Mediterranean. Instead of being defeated completely, Hamilcar Barca, the Carthaginian general, took an army to Spain in 237. Their plan was to open new markets and to create a new base of operations. Later this was continued by his son Hannibal and his son-in-law Hasdrubal. The Romans had been worried by Hannibal’s successes in Spain, an

Although none of the central Italian allies had gone over to Hannibal’s side after Cannae, the situation still looked bad for the Romans. They had been chastened by their defeat and refused to go against Hannibal. The Romans did have a slight advantage because Hannibal was weak in numbers and in equipment. He did not have enough soldiers to lay siege to cities such as Rome, and he did not have either the men or equipment to attack those cities. In 211, Hannibal marched right up the walls of Rome, but he never laid siege to it. The Romans then decided to fight the war through the back door. They knew that Hannibal was depending on Spain for supplies and men in the future, so they appointed a young, brilliant man as proconsul and handed him the imperium over Spain. His name was Publius Cornelius Scipio. Scipio had conquered all of Spain by 206. Hannibal was left high and dry in Italy. Scipio then crossed into Africa in 204 B.C. and continued the war on the walls of Carthage itself. This forced the Carthaginians to sue for peace with Rome. All during Hannibal’s war with Rome he never lost a major battle, although he had lost a couple small battles. Now, however, Hannibal was forced to retreat. He had won every battle and now he had lost the war. When he returned to Carthage, the Carthaginians rose up against Rome in one last battle in 202 B.C. Hannibal met his first defeat while fighting against Scipio and his army at Zama in northern Africa. Rome reduced Carthage to a dependent state. Rome now controlled the whole of the western Mediterranean including northern Africa. This was a memorable and historical experience for the Romans. They had faced this defeat with determination and toughness. The Second Punic War turned Rome from a regional power into an international empire. It had gained much of northern Africa, Spain, and the major island in the western Mediterranean.

d they sent an embassy to Carthage to demand the surrender of Hannibal. While they were there, the leader of the Roman embassy offered them peace or war, and they cried that they would take whichever he offered. He gave them war (Haywood 132). Hannibal was determined to fight Rome. His plan was both desperate and brilliant. He decided to invade Italy itself. Although his army by itself would be to small to achieve victory, he believed the Italian allies would not be af!

The Second Punic War was a turning point in Roman history. The most immediate and obvious effect was the acquisition of empire. In fifty years, Rome had acquired most of the western Mediterranean. The republic now had to adjust its finances, administration, foreign policy, and alliance system to rule these new territories. The army continued to be an important issue in Roman society. The only power left in the Mediterranean was Greece, and it was only a matter of time before these two clashed. Although Hannibal never actually threatened Rome again, his memory did constantly. Italy itself suffered severely

Some topics in this essay:
Hasdrubal Romans, Punic War, Hannibal Romans, Roman Varro, Mediterranean Greece, Rome Mackay, War Roman, Hannibal Carthaginians, Gaul Hannibal, River Valley, punic war, italian allies, roman army, war rome, northern africa, western mediterranean, rome hannibal, equipment attack, lake trasimene, war roman,