Running head: CARTHAGE AND ROME: TWO ANCIENT TITANS

Carthage and Rome: Two Ancient Titans

Michael Ohl
University of the People

CARTHAGE AND ROME: TWO ANCIENT TITANS

Introduction
Often in ancient times we see powers rise in parallel to each other where with a birds-eye view
as we have in history everyone just knows that conflict is inevitable. The societies living in that time
though have no idea what their future will hold and go on as they would. Rome and Carthage were like
this for the most part, Carthage even looking down on the Romans as they [...] were still living in
pitiful mud huts on their seven hills by the Tiber when Phoenician civilization had been flourishing for
centuries, as Lee Levin put it (2002). In the times before the Punic Wars the two people were slightly
similar. Both had large bits of territory on the Mediterranean, both were wealthy, they had both
conquered other lands and they both had ambition and drive to expand. It was this last trait that brought
them into conflict.
Pre-Punic War
Rome rose to power over the other Latin cities taking over nearly all of Italy quickly. They
formed a republic and incorporated their conquered territories into the republic in four different ways
either as a part of Rome, a province, a dependent ally, or a Latin State that had limited rights as Roman
but not full rights. Rome used this system to breed loyalty into their captured territories and also was
heavily focused on citizen solders, or that nearly every male citizen should be a soldier (Morey, 1901).
The Phoenicians on the other hand were a trade focused empire. They also had a republic and
did not treat their territories as Rome did, but took a more heavy handed approach using them for their
wealth. Carthage also formed it's armies with one Phoenician leading a group of mercenaries (Extra
Credits, 2013). Carthage was a Phoenician state of Tyre for a long time but around 550 BC Mago came
to power in Carthage and ran it as it's own power unto itself. This was not to say he had complete
control as Carthage was a republic with an Elders Council and a People's Assembly. After a time the
aristocrats of Carthage began to seize power form the Kings or Tyrants that had lead the country. They
created two tyrants of equal power that were also beholden to the council of elders (Carthage, n.d.). All

CARTHAGE AND ROME: TWO ANCIENT TITANS

of this was leading up to the first Punic War with Rome.

First Punic War
Now the first conflict comes up, Carthage only has roughly one-fifth of the population of Rome
but they used their vast wealth to employ mercenaries which will become important in the first Punic
War. The disadvantage to Rome here is while they have superior numbers they have little in the way of
a navy, theirs being much inferior to Carthage's fleet of ships. Because of a conflict on Sicily caused by
a group called the Mamertines who were helping a city in Sicily as mercenaries decided to take it over.
The people of Sicily did not like this and began to fight to take this city back, but the Mamertines asked
Carthage for their help, who did help them to secure the city and now imposed their rule on the city.
Again the Mamertines did not like this and now they implored Rome for help to drive Carthage from
their city (Extra Credits, 2013).
Now for the next 23 years Rome and Carthage were locked into battle. Rome wanted Sicily and
Carthage did not wish to give it up. They fought on land and Rome was decisively winning but toward
the end of this war Hamilcar came to be the general for Carthage in Sicily and held the Romans to a
standstill. Now the war was pressed out to the sea where Rome was outmatched until the invention of
the corvu, a long plank with a heavy spike allowed them to turn naval battles into floating land battles
with what may be the first marines (Levin, 2002). With this and the creation of their new fleet Rome
was a newly minted naval power and ready to hold the Mediterranean.
Conclusion
The wars between Carthage and Rome would conclude after the second Punic War when
Carthage was utterly defeated and placed under control of Rome. The differences between the super
powers of the ancient world were small at first, but Rome's citizen soldiers were able to prevail over the
mercenaries of Carthage and put Rome in full control over the Mediterranean. While both countires
were similar to start, they wound up very different in the end.

CARTHAGE AND ROME: TWO ANCIENT TITANS

References
Levin, L. (2002). Rome vs. Carthage: The Day the World Trembled. Retrieved May 14, 2015, from
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/690774/posts
Morey, W. (1901). Outlines of Roman History, Chapter 14. Retrieved May 14, 2015, from
http://www.forumromanum.org/history/morey14.html
Extra Credits. (2013, October). Extra History - Rome: The Punic Wars - Chapter 1: The First Punic
War [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbBHk_zLTmY
Carthage. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2015, from http://www.roman-empire.net/republic/carthage.html