In Ancient Rome History, one of the greatest, if not the greatest rival of Rome in terms of power, financial and military strength was Carthage. Both nations were superpowers of their time, and were the two dominant figures in the western Mediterranean, for Carthage, and Italian peninsula, for Rome. In this essay, I will analyze how Carthage grew to the point of being almost as powerful as Rome by showing the strengths of both superpowers, and also explaining how this, ultimately led to Rome becoming a naval power.
In the Ancient times of the Mediterranean Sea, Carthage and Rome rose both around the Mediterranean Sea, but in opposite sides. As these two ancient superpowers developed independently on different sides of the Mediterranean, they
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One of them is that it was founded by a tyrant colony. Over time, just like in the case of Rome, it became a center of commerce and maritime power. They were very curious, as they engaged in exploration and discovery. This innate curiosity, enabled the Carthagians to build good ships, that allowed them to explore around the Mediterranean Sea. They entered in contact with many nations, trading and purchasing and selling various goods. Selling these goods made huge profits for them, which enabled Carthage to grow rich and powerful, just like Rome was growing in the opposite side of the Mediterranean …show more content…
These new ships, which Rome could produce 100 of them in 60 days, also equipped with a plank that acted as a bridge, to invade nearby ships, were an infinitely valuable asset to the roman navy, as their superiority in hand to hand combat could be replicated when the plank was deployed to invade nearby ships.
By this time, Rome was the new naval superpower, with the best ships, and the best soldiers, which finally turned the tide in their favor.
With Rome now superior in both land and sea combat, ultimately Carthage was exhausted and it fell. With their defeat, Rome forced them to pay large fines every year, so as to keep them in financial struggle and avoid the possibility of rising again in the future. They also had to renounce to their possessions in Italy and Spain. As Cartwright explains: “Carthage would briefly rise again for a Third Punic War 50 years later but its position as a great Mediterranean power was now lost forever.” (2016)
Armies began growing impacting the control over the Italian peninsula; launching three wars against Carthage. For example, the Punic wars were taken place to dominate the western Mediterranean. But, by the early second century BCE, Rome had control over the Mediterranean coastline. Transforming in the wave of production from agricultural being manufactured to mine goods. Roman’s build roads to creating towns but, was placed to control the flow of commerce.
The Influential Roman Empire As historians look back on the mighty Greek and Roman Empires, they can reflect on the great organization of these civilizations. The precise organization of these empires has contributed greatly to the development of many nations, mainly modern day America. Although Greece contributed many beneficial ideas and techniques to modern day America, Rome was more influential through trade networks, its democratic government, and its noticeable cultural achievements. America’s ways of trading are based on some techniques used by the Greeks, but are more notably influenced by the Romans. To begin, Greece was forced to trade because of their lack of resources.
War would be Rome’s primary tool for expansion, they learned swiftly to be defiant in the face of danger. Near the end of the trouble with Carthage they refused to surrender and in so doing they chose an uncertain future. History shows Rome triumphed in the end, Rome’s army was able to adapt to virtually every situation. “For while the Carthaginians entrust the preservation of their liberty to the care of venal troops; the Romans place all their confidence in their own bravery, and in the assistance of their allies. From hence it happens, that the Romans, though at first defeated, are always able to renew the war; […].”
All these minerals allowed eventually for Rome to strengthen its powers as a powerful force in the ancient world. In addition to all of that Rome developed new trade routes with the capturing of Gaul. It was located between the Mediterranean sea and near the more northern part of Europe. This had made it an important place for trade. It was so important because the Mediterranean was the main spot where all trade would flow through.
Rome and Carthage were two great powers of ancient times. Rome mostly covered Italian territories and allied cities that she had conquered while Carthage was in the northern coast of Africa. Both cities had ambitions to go on and conquer other cities in order to become the World superpower leading to conflicts between them. Despite there being some similarities in the structure of government between the two governments in many ways they were different. While Rome had consuls, and a senate, Carthage had magistrates and a council of elders.
Many people are not aware of the Carthaginian Empire like they are the Roman Empire. However, Carthage was an adversary to the Romans that nearly bested them in the Second Punic War. The Carthaginian Empire was founded by the Phoenicians and included the North African coast, Southern Spain, and several islands in the Mediterranean, including Corsica, Sardinia, and parts of Sicily. The city of Carthage was founded in 814 BC along the Mediterranean in what is present day Tunisia (Roman-empire.net, n.d.). The city was built where it had access to the riches of the seas but also was easily protected.
The Roman people did not begin as a powerful and dominate nation much less an empire. “Their willingness to adapt to the changing society of modern weapons, warfare and governmental control drove them to the top of the so called food chain of there time” (Hadas). Advances in Roman weaponry gave
Trade was an important source of income for the roman empire and contributed to its stability. Trade conducted before the Roman Empire was relatively localized within certain geographic regions. Culturally Romans thought trading as a lowly pursuit that sought to profit off the misfortune of others. Trade began to become prominent as the Empire as the City began to require more resources than it could produce. With the rise of the Roman Empire the City of Rome was exposed to new regions that offered many unique goods.
For example, if an invasion was occurring in Egypt. But the bulk of their armies were stationed in the city of Rome the general could load them into ships and send them by sea which is much faster than traveling by foot which any land-locked countries like Mongolia would have to do. Fully surrounding the Meditteranean was also very useful in creating trade routes between major cities throughout the empire. Eventually, the empire grew so big that it had to be split in two, the Western Roman Empire being controlled by Rome, and the Eastern by Constantinople.
According to Morey (1901), Carthage was a wealthier nation with brilliant leaders, rich in commercial resources. It had a more powerful navy and they showed their greatness in their successes. On the other hand, Rome was better organized and had a more efficient army. It depended on the well-organized political system and the character of its people.
They traded with places that surrounded them with got the the resources they could have needed to strive and make new alliances. While trading they would negotiate imports and exports, also negotiating things with their alliances. The new supplies of resources being imported are important for their economy so they could be successful and maintain the environment they lived in ( DOC 2 ). At the market people sold things of many different varieties of things such as food and merchandise. When the people bought somethings it boosted the profits of the economy and it got stronger and stronger ( DOC 4 ).
The great Empire of Rome, the greatest power to have ruled the Mediterranean. The Roman empire thrived in the time of Julius Caesar around 47 BC. Caesar had made Rome into an empire, but after he died, Rome started its downfall. It was unthinkable. The great Roman empire’s reign was over.
The Mediterranean Sea caused the Romans to spread out the army and guard more than one territory. They had to spread the army out evenly because of the range. If one territory got attacked, even though roads were built for the traveling ease of the men, they still could not be at the attack very quickly. Because of the location, a variety of cultures would have promoted trade. The Mediterranean Sea was the main sea to navigate for trade.
Ancient Rome 's influence cannot be exaggerated. The English language, government, and culture – from basics such as alphabet and calendar to more sophisticated legal systems – are so heavily saturated with Roman features that it is impossible to imagine what the world would be like if Rome had not prospered. In this essay, I have tried to include the most interesting facts relating to the entire Roman period. The first aspect is the army.
Greeks became skilled people and traders. Retaining a plentitude of raw materials for construction. They built some of the most impressive structures in history. Mountains were a big thing but mostly a negative effect on this civilization for agriculture. The Seas were also a very big thing and had a great positive effect on this civilization for food and trading.