The Origins of the First Punic War Quiz

Answer: The Phoenicians

The Phoenicians originated from the area of present day Lebanon and were a seagoing commercial people whose ships may have reached as far as Ireland and West Africa in the Atlantic and who traded throughout the Mediterranean. Founded as a colony, Carthage would soon outstrip its founders as a naval and commercial power in the western Mediterranean.

The Latin word for Phoenician was "Punicus." By the late seventh century BC, Carthage would be a major political, military and economic player on the island of Sicily, especially the western half.

Answer: Syracuse

Syracuse would grow to be one of the greatest cities in the Greek world. It would evolve into an oligarchal democracy but gradually sink into tyranny in the latter part of the fourth century under Dionysus I (405-367 BC), who would fight four wars with Carthage and expand Syracusan influence, at one point, over much of Sicily and into southern Italy.

Answer: Rome overthrew the Tarquin dynasty and became a republic

It is not known if the treaty(which ironically gave each equal rights in Sicily--of course Rome had no navy and could not enforce it) and the establishment of the Republic are linked. Rome was an agrarian land power, with not even a port, moving south into Latium. Carthage was already a significant commercial and naval power with influence in Sardinia and often in conflict with the Sicilian Greeks and Etruscans.

It may have been that each sought to balance off the Etruscans, Rome's neighbor to the north. Rome may have feared counterrevolution because the Tarquins were Etruscan and wanted to secure its northern flank while moving south, and Carthage just because of its rivalry with the Etruscans. The treaty appears to be the first significant diplomatic contact between the two cities.

Answer: Messene

Messene, modern day Messina, would often find itself as the desired prize in international power struggles, chiefly between Carthage and Syracuse in their many wars.

Answer: Agathocles

Agathocles was a tyrant's tyrant(with special mention in Machiavelli's "The Prince"). He had spent years fighting other Sicilian Greeks and trying to expand Syracusan influence. He doubled crossed the Carthaginians, who had brokered a a treaty between Messene and Syracuse, and invaded their territory west of the Halycus.

The Carthaginians struck back and besieged Syracuse itself. Agathocles doubled down and invaded North Africa, where he had some success against Carthage until he left his forces with his son, who was eventually defeated. Agathocles would himself be defeated in Sicily as well and forced back behind the Halycus again.

But he showed the region, including Rome presumably, that the city of Carthage itself was vulnerable and could be attacked by land in Africa.

Answer: The Marmertines

The Marmertines, meaning the "Sons of War," were Campanian mercenaries from southwestern Italy hired initially by Agathocles. When he died in 289 BC, they were out of work and no new paymaster was in sight. They took matters into their own hands by taking Messene as their own city and generally engaging in piracy and raids for booty in and around northeastern Sicily.

Their presence and activities were problems for both Syracuse and Carthage.

Answer: A Greek army under Pyhrrus of Epirus

Pyrrhus invaded Italy and defeated two Roman armies in 280-279 BC but could not force a political settlement. His goal had always been to subdue Sicily and use it as a base to attack Carthage in North Africa. Though remaining undefeated on the battlefield in Sicily against Carthage and Syracuse, he wore out his welcome with all parties with his demands and high-handed behavior. Having failed to force a Sicilian political settlement, he went back to southern Italy for another round with Rome, having shown the Romans that the Carthaginians could be beat in battle on land.

The Romans had to have gained confidence after they drove the very gifted Epirot general from Italy after the Battle of Beneventum in 275 BC.

Answer: Heiro II

Heiro was the illegitimate son of a prominent Syracusan. He had proven himself in battle with Syracusan army during the war with Pyrrhus and gained its support and then that of the people,who made him king in 270 BC. His next move in 264 against the Marmatines, this time with the support of Carthaginians, would start a chain of events with great consequences.

Answer: The Marmatines appealed to Rome for help

When the mercenaries appealed to Rome, they unknowingly altered the course of history. Rome, after some debate,and against all tradition, accepted the Marmatine offer, and moved its army under Appius Claudius Caudex across the Straits of Messene. The First Punic War had started.

Answer: Rome began to fear Carthaginian power all round them.

Polybius states that Rome feared Carthage would crush Syracuse and dominate Sicily. By 264 BC, Carthage's power had grown in parts of Spain,was considered the "mistress" of all the islands of Sardinia and the Tyrrenean Sea and its navy was a threat to the entire coast of Italy.

The decision was not an easy one, as Rome knew that it would be a very great war with a very rich and powerful city. The Senate was unable to make a decision and it was put to the Comitia Centuriata, the plebian council.

It voted for war and Rome, which had never crossed a large body of water for military action, and did not have a navy of its own to speak of, crossed the Straits of Messene. It would lead, as Polybius said, first to war with Carthage and then to universal empire.