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Ancient History > Punic Wars - Rome and Carthage > Flashcards

Punic Wars - Rome and Carthage Flashcards

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1
Q

What powered Phoenician merchant ships in the Mediterranean?

A

Initially powered solely by oars

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2
Q

What did the Phoenicians establish throughout the Mediterranean?

A

Trading settlements

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3
Q

Who founded Carthage and in what year?

A

Dido in 814 BC

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4
Q

What clever method did Dido use to claim land for Carthage?

A

Cut the hide into thin strips

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5
Q

What was the relationship between Carthage and Tyre?

A

Carthage maintained a close link with Tyre throughout its history

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6
Q

What type of sacrifices did Carthage continue to perform?

A

Moloch sacrifices of infants

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7
Q

Where did the infant sacrifices occur in Carthage?

A

The Tophet of Salammbô

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8
Q

Until what year did the practice of infant sacrifice continue?

A

146 BC

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9
Q

How did the proportion of animal substitutes for child sacrifices change over time?

A

Decreased rather than increased

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10
Q

How was religion controlled in Carthage?

A

Closely controlled by the state

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11
Q

What competition did Carthage face from the 6th century onwards?

A

Greek colonies

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12
Q

What was the main driving force behind Greek colonization?

A

Shortage of good, cultivable land

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13
Q

What significant event happened in 216 BC?

A

Change of Rome and Carthage

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14
Q

In what year was Carthage destroyed by the Roman Republic?

A

146 BC

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15
Q

Who fled to the Mediterranean sea in the 8th Century BC?

A

Queen Dido

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16
Q

What was the political structure of Carthage?

A

Controlled by a popular senate elected by the people

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17
Q

How long before the Roman Republic was Carthage founded?

A

300 years

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18
Q

What significant event occurred in 753 BC?

A

Founding of Rome

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19
Q

What happened to Rome in 390 BC?

A

Wiped out but continued to build and regain power

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20
Q

What did Rome control by 264 BC?

A

Multiple areas of Italian land

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21
Q

What innovative combat method did the Romans use at sea?

A

Turned naval combat into land combat using bridges

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22
Q

What year did Roman legions land in Sicily?

A

264 BC

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23
Q

What uprising occurred against Carthage?

A

Numidian tribes uprising

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24
Q

What did Carthage seek instead of continuing the war in 241 BC?

A

Negotiation (diplomacy)

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25
What type of animals did Carthage use in battle?
Elephants
26
Who was Hannibal Barca?
Uprising general leading to conquer Rome
27
What major battle occurred on August 2nd, 216 BC?
Battle of Cannae
28
How many casualties were reported from the Battle of Cannae?
45,000 and more dead
29
What was the outcome for Carthage after Hannibal's defeat?
Forced to hand over their entire fleets
30
What did Carthage do to regain its economic state?
Boosted their trade
31
What is the Latin word for Punic?
Punic
32
How many Punic Wars were conducted?
3 Punic Wars
33
What was the primary composition of the Carthaginian army?
A professional army composed largely of foreign mercenaries, allies, and subject peoples ## Footnote Unlike the Roman legions, which were mostly made up of Roman citizens.
34
Who usually served as the Supreme Commander of the Carthaginian army?
A Carthaginian noble or general (e.g., Hamilcar Barca, Hannibal Barca)
35
What was the role of Carthaginian nobles in the army?
Served primarily as cavalry officers, generals, and high-ranking commanders
36
What was the main fighting force of the Carthaginian army?
Mercenaries hired from across the Mediterranean and Africa
37
What types of mercenaries were used in the Carthaginian army? List at least three.
* Libyans: Heavy infantry, javelin throwers * Numidians: Expert light cavalry, scouts * Iberians (Spanish): Fierce infantry, used falcata swords
38
What was the primary use of war elephants in the Carthaginian army?
Used for shock value and to break enemy lines
39
What were the strengths of the Carthaginian army?
* Diversity of troops offered a wide range of skills and tactics * Experienced and professional mercenaries * Innovative generals like Hannibal
40
What were the weaknesses of the Carthaginian army?
* Lack of cohesion among mercenaries * Loyalty issues—mercenaries might desert or revolt * Few Carthaginian citizens in the ranks = lack of national unity in battle
41
Who was Hannibal Barca?
A brilliant general of the Second Punic War; known for crossing the Alps
42
What was the significance of the Battle of Cannae?
Hannibal's greatest victory; perfect execution of encirclement
43
What was the role of consuls in the Roman army?
Two elected officials who led armies in the field
44
What was the basic unit organization of the Roman army?
Divided into legions, each consisting of about 4,000–6,000 soldiers
45
What is a Centurion?
A career soldier in the Roman army who commanded a century (approximately 80 men)
46
What was the Maniple system used by the Roman army?
A flexible formation with gaps between lines, allowing for maneuvering
47
What did the term 'To the Triarii' signify in Roman military context?
A situation was desperate — they were the last resort
48
What was the Roman army's recruitment method during the Punic Wars?
Conscription (draft) of Roman citizens; property requirements
49
What was the primary advantage of the Roman army in terms of loyalty?
High loyalty due to citizenship, land, and Roman identity
50
What was the Battle of Zama?
The final battle of the Second Punic War (202 BCE) where Scipio Africanus defeated Hannibal
51
What were the strengths of the Roman army?
* Highly disciplined and organised * Adaptive command structure * Strong reserve system (Triarii)
52
What were the weaknesses of the Roman army?
* Early reliance on seasonal citizen-soldiers * Vulnerable to surprise and unconventional tactics
53
What distinguished the Carthaginian military from the Roman military?
Carthage relied on mercenaries, while Rome used citizen-soldiers
54
What was the Punic Wars?
A series of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage from 264 to 146 BCE
55
Fill in the blank: The _______ was the large, rectangular shield used by Roman heavy infantry.
Scutum
56
What was the role of Socii in the Roman military?
Non-Roman Italian allies who provided troops (Alae) to the Roman army
57
What was the significance of the naval conflict in the First Punic War?
Carthage used mercenaries heavily
58
True or False: The Roman army had a standing army during the early Punic Wars.
False
59
What were the primary tactical innovations of the Carthaginian military?
Mastered ambushes, encirclements, and use of terrain
60
What was the role of the Senate in the Roman army?
Made strategic decisions and authorised military campaigns
61
What is a cohort in the context of the Roman army?
A unit composed of six centuries, typically numbering around 480 men
62
Who was Scipio Africanus?
Defeated Hannibal at Zama
63
What was the main reason for Carthage's downfall?
Internal weaknesses—like overreliance on mercenaries
64
When was the first Punic War?
264 BCE—241 BCE
65
When was the Mercenary War?
240—238 BCE

Ancient History (2 decks)

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