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Historical Period
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A century of war between Rome and Carthage, from Sicily and Hannibal to the razing of Carthage.

Use the timeline below to navigate through major events and milestones.

Punic Wars · 264–146 BC
Rome against Carthage

The Punic Wars

From the first clash over Sicily and the sea-battles that made Rome a naval power, through Hannibal's crossing of the Alps, the slaughter at Cannae and the long duel that carried the war from Italy to Spain and Africa, to Scipio's victory at Zama and the final, total destruction of Carthage. Slide across a century in which two Mediterranean powers fought three times for survival — and Rome emerged the master of the western world.

264 BC
The First Punic War
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264 BC

The First Punic War
  • Military

    War erupts over Sicily

    A quarrel over the city of Messana draws Rome and Carthage into their first war, fought for the island of Sicily.

11 milestones

Meanwhile

Around 264 BC

Full Chronicle

The Punic Wars

From the first clash over Sicily and the sea-battles that made Rome a naval power, through Hannibal's crossing of the Alps, the slaughter at Cannae and the long duel that carried the war from Italy to Spain and Africa, to Scipio's victory at Zama and the final, total destruction of Carthage. Slide across a century in which two Mediterranean powers fought three times for survival — and Rome emerged the master of the western world.

  1. The First Punic War

    • War erupts over Sicily

      A quarrel over the city of Messana draws Rome and Carthage into their first war, fought for the island of Sicily.

  2. The First Punic War

    • Rome takes to the sea at Mylae

      Building its first great fleet, Rome defeats the Carthaginian navy at Mylae with the boarding-bridge called the corvus.

  3. The First Punic War

    • Regulus invades Africa

      A Roman army under Regulus lands in Africa but is crushed the next year outside Carthage itself.

  4. The First Punic War

    • Victory at the Aegates Islands

      A new Roman fleet destroys Carthage's navy at the Aegates Islands, ending the First Punic War.

  5. The Second Punic War

    • Hannibal crosses the Alps

      Hannibal leads an army with war elephants over the Alps into Italy, opening the Second Punic War.

  6. The Second Punic War

    • The slaughter at Cannae

      At Cannae, Hannibal encircles and annihilates a far larger Roman army in his masterpiece of battle.

  7. The Second Punic War

    • Scipio wins Spain

      The young Roman Scipio conquers Carthaginian Spain, cutting off Hannibal from his base of power.

  8. The Second Punic War

    • Scipio defeats Hannibal at Zama

      Recalled to defend Carthage, Hannibal is beaten by Scipio at Zama, ending the Second Punic War.

  9. Carthage Humbled

    • Carthage stripped of empire

      The peace leaves Carthage shorn of Spain and its fleet, a tributary confined to Africa.

  10. The Third Punic War

    • "Carthage must be destroyed"

      Fearing Carthage's revival, Rome seizes on a pretext and lays siege to the city.

  11. The Third Punic War

    • The destruction of Carthage

      After a desperate defence, Carthage is stormed, burned and razed, leaving Rome supreme in the west.