Cultural Comparison and the Pyrrhic Wars

5.3

Society – Greek in people and culture

Politics – Oligarchies, democracies, tyrannies, and monarchies based on location

Economics – Agricultural and trading (sea and land)

Military – Phalanx and cavalry by land / Variations of the trireme by sea – soldiers have stake in win/loss depending on location.

Greeks (Macedonia as Hegemon)

Society – Varies by location but Greek in

culture

Politics – Typically monarchies (kingdoms)

Economics – Agriculture and trading

Military – Varies by location but would resemble phalanx. Soldiers have stake depending on size of the kingdom. Bigger kingdom = less stake

Hellenized People

Society – Latin people but Greek culture

Politics – Small monarchies, oligarchies, or republics

Economics – Primarily agriculture with trading

Military – Not a phalanx, but massed infantry. Soldiers pulled directly from society

Latins

Society – Phoenician people and culture

Politics – Oligarchy

Economics – Agricultural and HEAVY sea trade

Military – Massed infantry and powerful navy. Soldiers from throughout empire

Carthaginian

The Pyrrhic Wars

280 B.C. – 272 B.C.

Tarentum, Magna Graecia

Issues – including Rome Calls for aid

Pyrrhus of Epirus (Greek) comes to Italy in the defense of Magna Graecia

Rome defeated in several battles – Heraclea 280, Asculum 279 Pyrrhic Victory

Setting the Scene

Italian tribes would leave Roman

Confederation

Magna Graecia would be free of Roman influence

Rome refuses, no Italians really join Greece Why?

What Pyrrhus Hoped

Pyrrhus, as part of his contract, helps the Greeks in Sicily –

278 BC Defeats Carthaginians – Rome and Carthage work together Attrition takes hold Return to Italy – Tarentum under siege by Rome

Defeat – Beneventum 275 BC Retreat to Tarentum – 2/3 of army gone

272 BC – “What a battlefield I am leaving for Carthage and Rome”

Rome Does Not Fall

The Roman Confederation

displays its stability Rome gains experience

fighting against Greeks (phalanx)

Rome gains experience fighting against elephants – the pila

Rome annexes Tarentum 272 BC and Italy 270 BC (Rhegium)

Legacy of the Pyrrhic Wars

What Now?