PR-2237IRE Ancient Rome

TEACHERS
N OTE
Enemies of Rome – Hannibal
As the city of Rome spread its influence throughout Italy, the western parts of the Mediterranean
were under the control of the Carthaginians, people from the north African coastal city of Carthage.
Carthage had been founded in the eighth century BC by the Phoenicians, a trading nation from the
Middle East. When the trading interests of Carthage and Rome clashed, a series of wars known as
the Punic wars (Punic – Latin for Phoenicians) broke out between the two powerful nations.
According to one writer called Polybius, Hannibal crossed the Alps with 90 000 troops and 12 000 cavalry, but
these figures are regarded as too high by historians. Only a few of Hannibal’s elephants survived the rugged
mountain terrain and the icy conditions.
After razing Carthage to the ground, the Romans ploughed the land with salt so crops could never grow there
again.
Note:
Before they write their description, remind the children of the intense cold, the problems of taking elephants and
cavalry horses across mountains and a river, and the attacks by fierce tribes.
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