Punic Wars
Definition
The Punic Wars were a series of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage from 264 BCE to 146 BCE. These wars were primarily fought for control over the Mediterranean Sea and resulted in the eventual destruction of Carthage.
Analogy
Imagine two rival sports teams competing against each other in a best-of-three championship series. They battle fiercely on the field, with each team trying to gain dominance over the other. In the end, one team emerges victorious while the other is completely defeated.
Related terms
Hannibal Barca: A Carthaginian general who famously led his army, including war elephants, across the Alps to attack Rome during the Second Punic War.
Scipio Africanus: A Roman general who defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama, effectively ending the Second Punic War.
Third Punic War: The final conflict between Rome and Carthage that resulted in the complete destruction of Carthage and its annexation by Rome.
"Punic Wars" appears in:
Are you a college student?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.