Rome Versus Carthage

This piece of writing was based on the Roman Republic which was recommended by a friend for something to draw and write about. This post is an analysis of the Punic War, - Rome vs. Carthage, and how the generals fought the battles. The Second Punic War was a make-or-break moment for the Roman Republic, which was a very difficult time for Rome. The Carthaginian General Hannibal outmaneuvered the Roman Army- even with less men and left the Republic with a major defeat.

The Carthaginian Gaulin and Roman armies were very different and had different strengths and weaknesses. The Carthaginian army was split up into light and heavy units, and the Roman cavalry were split into 30 men units that were very small. The Carthaginian army was highly effective and employed some Gaulian units. The Roman cavalry was very small and only minorly effective- weaker than many of their enemies’ cavalry- it was a weakness.

The Carthaginian army was heavily organized and was considered heavy infantry. The Carthaginian Army used a tactical formation/strategy that was not like the Greek Phalanxes but was closer to the Roman Princeps and Hastati. They took the weapons dropped from the dead Romans at Lake Trasimene and used them, equipped into their military gear. The Carthaginian units were considered heavy infantry. The Carthaginian’s were mostly split into two groups the Scutarii and the Caetrati. The Carthaginian military units were strong but not completely up to par with the Roman Army.

Carthaginian units: the Scutarius were equipped with a heavy shield was considered the heavy infantry men while the Caetratus was considered a light infantry men equipped with a light shield and throwing javelins.  The Gaul’s were another one of Rome’s enemies and some of them fought with the Carthaginian army. The Gaul’s were “violent war cries both before and during battle, Gaul’s were an intimidating enemy. They had no regular formations, being divided by tribe and most likely operating in clans and family groups, perhaps 250 men strong (Connoly 1998:187).” (Cambell 21.) The Gaul’s were a fierce fighting force mainly known for their fighting energy, intensity and ability to risk their lives for their cause. Some of the weaknesses of the Gaul’s infantry units include they had poor morale, retreated easily and were pretty out of shape.

The Roman Cavalry’s army was incredibly important in its turmae(squadrons) with some of its wealthiest and most ambitious young men called the equities, it also was usually a small size. The legion would contain 300 men divided” into a turmae of 30 men each” (Cambell 21.) The Carthaginian’s star general Hannibal used his armies well enough that they were able to defeat the more effective Roman Army and force them into heavy reforms to defend themselves. Hannibal brought the Carthaginian Military to Rome’s home which did not happen again hundreds of years later.

The Carthaginian army was split into heavy and light infantry- small shields and javelins- big shields and swords. The Roman Army had cavalry units that were made of 30 men and completely made up of 300 men per legion. The Carthaginian General was called Hannibal, and he brought the war to Rome’s homeland killing 20% of all the men in the Roman Empire. The Carthaginian army was more like the Roman army then the Greek Phalanxes but it did take some of the same ideas and tactics form the Greeks.

Citations

Cambell, D. (2018a). Roman Legionary Versus Carthaginian Warrior. Osprey Publishing.