v53_0160 - ZEUGITANIA - CARTAGE Statère de billon ou trihémishekel

ZEUGITANA - CARTHAGE

(264-201 BC)

Many differences already opposed Rome and Carthage when the first Punic War broke out in 264 BC.. -VS. What is at stake is the domination of the Western Mediterranean and maritime trade. Rome is the ally of Hieron of Syracuse. The Romans win the naval victory of Myles in 260 BC. -VS. The victory of Ecnome, the following year, allows the Romans to land in Africa, but Regulus is beaten and killed. Hamilcar Barca engaged in merciless guerrilla warfare in the ten years that followed. Finally, the Roman fleet crushes the Carthaginian fleet at the Egate Islands in 241 BC. -VS. Carthage renounces Sicily and must pay an indemnity of 3. 200 skills. The following years were marked by the conquest of Sardinia and Corsica in 238 BC.. -VS. The Barca with Hasdrubal, then with Hannibal, son of Hamilcar organize the conquest of Spain and the foundation of Carthago Nova. The Second Punic War began in 218 BC.. -VS. , after the capture of Sagunto and the refusal of Carthage, to deliver Hannibal to the Romans. Hannibal with 50. 000 men crosses the Pyrenees and the Alps. He crushes the Roman armies at La Trébie in 218 BC. -VS. , at Lake Trasimeno in 217 BC. -VS. The Romans are swept away at Cannes on August 2, 216 BC. -VS. 80. 000 Romans and the consul Paul-Émile died there. The road to Rome is open, but Hannibal does not march on the city and settles in southern Italy. In 212, he took Taranto and rallied the cities of southern Italy, while Marcellus seized Syracuse (death of Archimedes). The Romans take Capua in 211 BC. -VS. Scipio the African seizes Carthago Nova, but cannot prevent Hasdrubal from crossing into Italy. The latter was killed at the Battle of Metaurus in 207 BC.. -VS. Scipio then brought the war to Africa in 204 BC.. -VS. which forces the Carthaginians to recall Hannibal. The Carthaginians are defeated at Zama in 202 BC. -VS. and then ask for peace, the following year.