2.6: Expansion of the Roman Republic -TEACH-

• History
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

The Time of Greeks and Romans

2.6: Expansion of the Roman Republic

people in this lesson

Hannibal

general

Carthage

Marius

consul / general

Rome

Scipio 

consul / general

Rome

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Make a note in your notebook 

Lesson 2.6: Expansion of the Roman republic

• By 300 BC Rome controlled most of Italy.
• To expand beyond Italy, Rome needed to defeat the empire of Carthage.
• Carthage = today's Tunisia.
• The 3 wars with Carthage are called the Punic Wars.
• During the 2nd war, Rome was almost destroyed by HANNIBAL.

Modern reconstruction drawing of the Carthaginian army crossing the Alps with elephants

Make a note in your notebook 

Lesson 2.6: Expansion of the Roman republic

• After the 3rd Punic war the Romans completely destroyed Carthage.
• Rome was now the strongest power around the Mediterranean Sea.

Modern drawing that gives an impression of the final battle of Carthage.

Roman triremes sail towards the harbour of the city of Carthage

a Professional army

The early Roman army was organised similarly to the armies of the Greek poleis. Only Roman citizens who could pay for their own armour and equipment could join the army. It was not a professional army. 

As the empire got bigger Rome needed more soldiers. The consul Gaius Marius, who was also a succesful army general, changed the organisation of the Roman army around 100 BC. From then on:

• poor citizens could also join the army.
• Rome paid the armour and equipment
• soldiers signed up for a fixed period of time (16 to 20 years)
• soldiers were paid wages for their service
• the army was organised into legions, each made up of around 5,000 soldiers.

Rome now had a full-time professional army.

The Roman army became one of the most successful armies in world history. It was well-trained, well-equipped, and well-organized. You can learn more about the Roman army in a different lesson.

top picture: Roman legionaries during the Republican era.

bottom: overview of one Roman legion

Marius' mules

Gaius Marius also introduced other reforms. To ensure his soldiers were fit he ordered them to go on long route-marches. While doing this they had to carry their own cooking utensils, three days' food rations, a sickle, rope, pick-axe, turf-cutter, shield, sword and javelin. Not surprisingly, Roman legionnaires obtained the nick-name "Marius' mules".

congratulations

If you want to learn more about Hannibal's war against Rome you can watch this 90 minute film. Not mandatory, but interesting nonetheless....

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When Hannibal attacks a city in Spain that is an ally of Rome, a Roman senator visits Carthage and threatens with war......

Carthage has conquered territory in Spain.

The city Saguntum asks Rome for protection against Carthage.