II. The Rise of Carthage

A) Following the collapse of Phoenicia, wealthy Carthaginian landowners and merchants established an Oligarchic Republic in the former colony.B) The Council of 400, similar to the Roman Senate, established a policy to produce wealth through trade, by implementing the following plan…

1) Creation of a large navy – for acquisition and protection of new territories.

- Quinquereme(Kwin-Kwah- Reem) – one deck ship with about 50-60 oars, five men to an oar.

-The Quinquereme was heavier and slower than most ships. However it had one MAJOR advantage – Ramming ships!2) With their powerful navy the Carthaginians seized control of all of former Phoenicia, North Africa, Corsica, Sardinia, parts of Sicily, the Balearic Islands, eastern Spain, and the Strait of Gibraltar.

C) Rome vs. Carthage (advantages and disadvantages)1) Carthage had more people than Rome.

- Rome population: 50,000 to 75,000

- Carthage population: 100,000 to 200,000

2) Land

- Rome: city was moderate in size, dirty and contained few large stone buildings.

- Carthage: city was 3x as large as Rome and more impressive. Had a beautiful harbor, spacious markets, busy manufacturing and beautiful homes for the wealthy – all of this was surrounded by a protective wall.

3) Allies (Friends)- Rome: had access to less than 1 million people.

- Carthage: had access to 1.5 million people.

Who will win?!?!

- Rome had the strongest army.

- Carthage had the strongest navy.