compare punic wars and persian wars?

Answer 1

Hi,

This is just from memory, but I will give you a short outline.

Persian Wars:

This eventually led to the invasion of Greece by Xerxes and was defeated by an alliance of Greek city states led by Sparta and Athens.

This led to the Athenian Empire, which eventually fought with Sparta and its "allies." This is called the Peloponesian War.

The Athenian Empire was eclipsed by the Spartans, then Thebes took over for a lttle while until Philip of Macedon conquered the whole of Greece.

When Philip was assinated, Alexander the Great (his son) goes on to realise Philip's dreams and conquer the whole Persian Empire.

This was supposedly in revenge for the Persians invasion of Greece. (Perhaps, look it up, my memory is very faulty.)

Punic Wars

Carthage is a sea power that controls the Western Mediterranean. Rome is a land power that controls most of Italy.

First Punic War

Carthage and Rome fight over Sicily which really lies between the two empires. Eventually after a long and savage war, Rome wins and by cunning and brute force gains the islands around Italy.

Second Punic War

Carthage builds up in Sppain to regain wealth of former empire. In "revenge", the leader in Spain, Hannibal invades Italy via the Alps and in a series of battles, wipes out Roman military prestige. A savage war develops in Ita;ly. Meanwhile, after a couple of false starts, Scipio conquers Spain for the Romans. He then goes back to Italy, and organises an army to invade Carthage. Hannibal, who is losing in the war of attrition in Italy is forced to go back to north Africa to save Carthage. Battle of Zama. Scipio defeats Hannibal. End odf Second Punic War. Huge indemnity put on Carthage. Rome starts conquering Greece and Macedonia. In fact, Rome really arrives on the "world stage" and starts to dictate and control policy in the whole of the Mediterranean basin.

Third Punic War

Carthage is crippled by Rome. However, even in a weakened state, it still frightens Rome. Eventually, Cato the Elder by saying after every speech the words "Delenda Carthago est" (Carthage must be destroyed) convinces enough to destroy Carthage. Carthage is tricked and then besieged. It eventually is sacked and destroyed.

A very telling comment from the commander of the Roman Army (another Scipio) might give you some clue as to what Rome eventually achieved by destroying Carthage. He is supposed to have said, "Mare nostrum," when looking at the Mediterranean. It means, "Our Sea." By destroying its most bitter rival, Rome had controlled the whole of the Mediterranean area.

OK, that's the outline. How do you compare them? In some ways it is very difficult, so, instead of me doing all the hard work, I suggest you look at a few books. (However, you might get a few ideas from the outline.)

I'll give a small clue, after the wars was there any expansion of a state, no matter how brief, (Ever seen the Acropolis??? Where did Caesar come from???)

Since I do not know exactly what you are looking for, why not see your tutor and discuss exactly what they are looking for? It might be something totally different.

The sources are below.

Answer 2

I'm a military history-buff. I'd probably try to do them all. I would start with the Civil War, do WW II next, then the Korean War. If I still had time I would do one on the American Revolution (the Battle of Lexington and Concord), the Cold War, Vietnam, and WW I. If I still had time I would do the Indian Wars, the Mexican War, War of 1812 (the Battle of New Orleans), the Persian Gulf War, then last, but not least, the Peloponnesian war and the Punic Wars (interchangeable). In fact I have, at one time or another, studied every one of these wars (some in more detail then others).

Answer 3

How do you want to compare them?
Any similarity I can find is that both ended with the complete destruction of one of the factions.

One main difference is that Persia was destroyed by one ambitious man: Alexander the Great.
Carthage however had it's power reduced in two succesive wars and was finally destroyed by the romans in the third punic war, which was actually nothing more than a three year long siege of Carthage ending in the citys destruction.

Answer 4

I disapprove both.