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Thursday, November 25, 2010

Research Paper on Rome

Research Paper on Rome

The destruction of Carthage was a result of fear, hatred and a chance to settle old scores and gain revenge for past rifts and battles. The influence of Cato in stimulating the sheer hatred of Carthage within the senate was necessary to gain the economic benefits, which would be derived only from the complete obliteration and abolition of Carthage. The sheer driving power of Scipio Aemilianus and his role as consul in Africa provoked warfare and ensured that the fate of Carthage was one of ruin. Adopting a new hard-line foreign policy, Rome began to treat their enemies more harshly, and introduced a hardening attitude towards those states that broke treaties and involved Rome in long and costly wars. Able to combine the intellect of both Cato and Scipio together with Rome’s new hard foreign policy, the total destruction of Carthage was inevitable and unavoidable.

The Provocation and frustration aroused by Masinissa’s quest for the establishment of Africa as an empire initiated the third Punic War. The peace treaty of 201 prevented the Carthaginians declaring war without Rome’s permission and therefore enabled Masinissa to act without fear of a counter attack or through an underlying search for revenge. Rome’s reaction to Masinissa’s search for Africa as an empire can be seen in the commission sent to Africa by Rome in 172. Livy records that Carthage asked the senate to decide if the territorial claims of Masinissa were fair, or to enable them to declare war on him. Masinissa’s son, Gulussa implored the senate “Not to believe their common enemies”. Livy records that “The Carthaginians protested that…more than seventy towns and fortified places on Carthaginian territory had been taken over by Masinissa”… However, with the restricting peace treaty in place, Carthage could not directly attack Africa or declare any act of aggression without Rome’s permission. Being a strategist and a man drive and coercion, Masinissa reinforced his loyalty to the Romans by sending corn and elephants and kept the fear of a Punic uprising at the forefront of Roman thoughts. Cato added to this fear and promoted the total destruction of Carthage in the Roman senate.
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Cato played an influential role stimulating hatred of the Carthaginians and promoted the total destruction of Carthage within the Roman senate. Cato believed that the economic benefits by Rome completely destroying Carthage were in abundance and Cary and Scullard claim Cato’s motive “Was honest, however it misguided fear”. After the initial outbreak of war the senate followed Cato’s line to destroy Carthage totally as he claimed they had broken the 201 peace treaty. Cato understood the power of persuasion and rhetoric and gained influence within the senate by including the phrase “Carthage must be destroyed” in order to continually drive the Romans to his cause. As noted by Cary and Scullard, the Carthaginians reacted by turning from “Object submission to frenzied defiance” as they worked on the defence of the city and the replenishment of military and naval arsenals.

The sheer driving power of Scipio Aemilianus and his role as consul in Africa provoked the total destruction of Carthage. Elected as consul in 147, Scipio had the support of Cato and the Roman senate thus guaranteeing his campaign for Carthage to surface. Scipio bought a single aim to the campaign, the destruction of Carthage by close investment and assault, such as a double line of earth works, which prevented supplies reaching Carthage by land, and the building of a mole to close off the opening of the Carthaginian harbour mouth. Scipio was able to surround Carthage by positing his battering rams and other siege engines against the wall surrounding Carthage to ensure the total defeat and elimination of the Carthaginians. Scipio’s imaginative foresight is evident as he cuts Carthage off from both sea and land taking possession of the new harbour entrance. Able to gain a firm hold upon the city wall and penetrate dockyard buildings, Hasdrubal ordered the whole area to beset alright, however Scipio bought in a fresh legion. Appian’s account of the final destruction of Carthage describes the Carthaginians shooting missiles from houses aimed at the Romans in the streets, however the Romans would not be deterred and entered the buildings quickly defeating the Carthaginians. Appian recalls, “Scipio ordered all the sector to be fired and the ruins cleared away to give a better passage to his troops”. Scipio’s coerce and power and role as consul ensured his aim for the destruction of Carthage was put into effect.

Rome introduced a new hard line foreign policy after the destruction of Carthage in the third Punic war. Carthaginian envoys offered to surrender and over 50 000 men, women and children were sold into slavery. Rome ensured the continuance of their future alliances and rewarded Phoenician cities with freedom and territory for their desertion of Carthage. Treating their enemies more harshly, Rome introduced a hardening attitude towards those states that broke treaties and involved Rome in long and costly wars. Tarnished by “The Callous and calculating ways in which the order (to destroy Carthage) was enforced…” (Cary and Scullard) Rome’s shift in foreign policy and the new hard line and aggressive approach guaranteed the future establishment and growth of Rome as a prominent empire.

The destruction of Carthage as a need to gain revenge and quell a sense of hate and fear is reliant upon the influences of Scipio Aemilianus and Cato. Able to use their positions as consul and popularity within the Roman senate to encourage a sense of hate towards the Carthaginians, the desolation of Carthage is a result of the foresight and aims of both personalities. Combined with the new hard-line foreign policy adopted to discourage allies to drift from Roman allegiance the combination of all three factors added to the complete annihilation of Carthage. Using their individual strengths and prudence in order to guarantee the future of Rome, the devastation of Carthage was inevitable as all three factors added to the success of the Romans within their defeat against Carthage in the Third Punic War.

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