The Causes of the Second Punic War

Dating back to 509BC, two great powers of the Mediterranean - Rome and Carthage - had friendly treaties with each other. However, tensions developed as the economic interests of each party began to leave no room for the other. While Carthage was larger and richer with an excellent Navy, Rome had a strong government backed with a seemingly inexhaustible land army of citizens. In particular, conflicts occurred over a clash of economic interests. The First Punic War (also called the Sicilian War) began in 264BC as a result of both Rome and Carthage wishing to have exclusive control over Sicily. Rome managed to win a victory in the Aegates Islands after twenty three years of fighting, by working hard to match Carthage’s strong naval power. A peace was forced, with Rome deciding the terms of the treaty. However, as often happens with wars that are concluded on such harsh terms, another war was to follow in 218BC, just twenty three years after the First Punic War. That said, the treaties, while a major reason for the Second Punic War, were not the only cause.

The treaty that Rome made with Carthage was complicated, and had numerous political results. Carthage was asked to totally evacuate Sicily and the Aegadian Islands, which lay west of it, as well as the small islands that lay between Sicily and Africa. According to Wikipedia, “Perhaps the most immediate political result of the First Punic War was the downfall of Carthage 's naval power.” They also had to return all Roman prisoners of war to Rome without ransom, but make a huge payment for their own people. The Carthaginians were not permitted to attack Syracuse and her allies, and the allies of both Rome and Carthage were not allowed to make war on each other. A small group of Islands, north of Sicily – Aeolian Islands and Ustica – that had previously belonged to Carthage were to be transferred to Rome’s control. On top of this, Carthage was to pay a fine of 2200 talents over ten yearly

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