Roman Expansion

• Rome expanded their empire by conquering neighbors, and making alliances.

Rome’s strong army was organized into legions.

Each legion contained 5,000 soldiers called legionaries.

Legions could be divided into groups of 60-120 soldiers.

The Punic Wars• The Punic Wars are 3 wars between Rome and Carthage that spanned 100 years.

• The 3rd Punic War: Rome defeated Carthage. Rome plowed salt into their fields.

• The 2nd Punic War: Hannibal Barca entered Italy from the Alps.

• The 1st Punic War: Rome developed its Navy to beat Carthage on the Mediterranean.

Hannibal

• Carthage lost, and gave up Spain and their territories to Rome.

• Hannibal came to Rome’s

wall, but couldn’t enter Rome.• Hannibal raided and burned Roman villages for

15 years.• Hannibal returned to Carthage when Rome

attacked his homeland.

Effects of Conquest• Small farms were destroyed

by Hannibal’s raids.

• Patricians purchased farms

and created latifundias

(large estates).

• Slavery expanded in Rome, taking jobs.

• Plebeians and farmers moved to cities.

• Rome demanded taxes from conquered territories.

• The gap between the rich and poor grew!!