Rome Vs Carthage: Comparison

Carthage Comparison

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 Mediterranean world had very different cultures, military and people. The Roman’s had legions, cavalry and legions. The Greek’s had a uniform similar group of most of the same Greek type of unit. The Carthaginians were more oligarch based, and the Carthaginians had very different type of units not like the Greeks that were most of the same. The Roman’s, Greeks and Carthaginians have very different units to each other.

Carthage was the dominant power of the Western Mediterranean for centuries throughout the First Punic War. Carthage was defeated in the first Punic War in the new territories throughout Hannibal’s armies that he inherited from his father Hamilcar, another famous general. The Graeco-Roman world was filled with Carthaginian power. The Carthaginians had less manpower than the Roman’s so they couldn’t field as big armies.

The Greek Phalanx was also relevant in the Roman vs Greek Carthage wars. The Roman Army flanked the Greek Phalanxes at Cannae which destroyed their army. The Hellenistic phalanges were organized differently than the Carthaginian’s or the Roman Legion’s.

The Carthaginian Army was an oligarchy based with Carthaginian generals being very wealthy or high up in the government or military. Hannibal used the Phalanx which was different than another infantry. The Carthaginians did not have all the same units in comparison to the Greek Phalanx that had all the same infantry and cavalry.

The Mediterranean world in 200BC had vastly different cultures, militaries and economies which impacted the region. The main powers were the Greeks, Romans and Carthaginians. The Greeks fought in a Phalanx of uniform troops. The Romans fought in a legion. The Carthaginians were an oligarchy that used different units then the Greeks.