What was the Third Punic War (149-146 BC)?

Introduction The Third Punic War (149-146 BC) was the third and last of the Punic Wars fought between Carthage and Rome. The war was fought entirely within Carthaginian territory, in modern northern Tunisia. When the Second Punic War ended in 201 BC, one of the terms of the peace treaty prohibited Carthage from waging war… Read More

What was the Second Punic War (218-201 BC)?

Introduction The Second Punic War (Spring 218 BC to 201 BC) was the second of three wars fought between Carthage and Rome, the two main powers of the western Mediterranean in the 3rd century BC. Refer to the First Punic War (264-241 BC) and Third Punic War (149-146 BC). For seventeen years, the two states… Read More

What was the Battle for Trebia (218 BC)?

Introduction The Battle of the Trebia (or Trebbia) was the first major battle of the Second Punic War (218 to 201 BC), fought between the Carthaginian forces of Hannibal and a Roman army under Sempronius Longus on 22 or 23 December 218 BC. It took place on the flood plain of the west bank of… Read More

What was the Treaty of Lutatius (241 BC)?

Introduction The Treaty of Lutatius was the agreement of 241 BC, amended in 237 BC, between Carthage and Rome which ended the First Punic War after 23 years of conflict. Most of the fighting during the war took place on, or in the waters around, the island of Sicily and in 241 BC a Carthaginian… Read More

What was the Siege of Drepana (249-241 BC)?

Introduction The Siege of Drepana took place from about 249 to 241 BC during the First Punic War. Drepana (today’s Trapani) and Lilybaeum (today’s Marsala) were two Carthaginian naval strongholds at the western end of Sicily that came under prolonged Roman attack. During the beginning of the siege, the naval victory of the Carthaginians over… Read More

What was the Siege of Lilybaeum (250-241 BC)?

Introduction The Siege of Lilybaeum lasted for nine years, from 250 to 241 BC, as the Roman army laid siege to the Carthaginian-held Sicilian city of Lilybaeum (modern Marsala) during the First Punic War. Rome and Carthage had been at war since 264 BC, fighting mostly on the island of Sicily or in the waters… Read More

What was the Battle of Adys (255 BC)?

Introduction The Battle of Adys (or Adis) was a battle in late 255 BC of the First Punic War between a Carthaginian army jointly commanded by Bostar, Hamilcar and Hasdrubal and a Roman army led by Marcus Atilius Regulus. Earlier in the year, the new Roman navy established naval superiority and used this advantage to… Read More