Rome’s Ingenious Plan: Semi-citizenship
From 218-202 BCE, Hannibal attacked Rome in the Second Punic War, winning nearly every battle he fought; Hannibal was triumphant throughout most of the war. However, Rome was still able to win the Second Punic War due to its ingenious plan, semi-citizenship. During the war Rome lost many soldiers, but bounced back stronger than ever and won the war against Carthage and Hannibal. Rome was able to recover extremely quickly as a result of its semi-citizenship. Susan Wise Bauer writes, “(Rome) granted citizenship without the right to vote.” This was essentially taxation without representation; it allowed Rome to use all of Italy’s troops, resources, money, and food, without having to manage or even visit the territory that they rule.
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This was made possible because the army was comprised of Roman citizens, as well as a great deal of semi-citizens. Therefore, Rome immensely relieved on its semi-citizens during in times of conflict, such as the Second Punic War; they “...were the linchpin in the war…” as John T. Medin IV puts it, “The power of Rome was directly related to the ability of Rome to keep its allies within the system.” With a seemingly endless supply of allies, Rome could afford to lose every battle in the war, yet still win because they controlled not only their own resources, but all of Italy’s resources. Another example of Rome’s firm resilience was proven at the battle of Cannae, where around 70,000 soldiers died, according to Polybius. Despite the enormous loss, a mere five years later the Roman army was able to come back and recapture part of Sicily. The powerful loyalty of semi-citizenship made Rome and her allies not only strong, but
Both the competence of the Roman senate and Carthaginian government’s failure to support Hannibal in Italy were crucial factors for Rome’s victory in the second punic war. By 216 BC, Rome had lost successive battles at Trebia, Ticinus, Lake Trasimene and had suffered a devastating loss at Cannae. Such events
As well as another reason to Rome's downfall was because most of the Roman military were foreign soldiers and not really Romans themselves. In “Doc 5” it explains how most of Rome’s military were in fact foreign soldiers. Most of the foreign soldiers were German. Most of the time the foreign soldiers would would betray Rome and switch sides during battle. This was a case of disloyalty. From these soldiers switching sides during battle many of the soldiers that were Romans died and eventually the military grew weak and couldn’t defend Rome’s
Without a loyal army, Rome could not fight against its enemies, so it could not protect itself. Rome was so big, and had so little soldiers, that it could no longer fight off
Rome or Athens, who do you think had a better system of citizenship? In a comparison between Athens in 400 BCE and Rome in 1 CE, I believe Rome had a better system of citizenship. While both occupied the area that is modern day Italy and had thriving cultures, Rome had a better system of citizenship for three reasons: first, people with knowledge of how to run a government were members of the senate; second, Roman cities were willing to grant partial citizenship; and third, Roman citizens had rights. Because people with knowledge of how to run a government were members of the senate, the administration ran smoothly.
As a result, the Hans possessed a massive continental landmass. Likewise, the Romans took over the inland sea areas along the Mediterranean. They merged the multitude of ethnic groups and city-states into a large single-unit political state. Through the assimilation of military power from the communities they conquered in Italy, Roman army accumulated and grew in control. Similar to the Hans glory over the nomads, the Roman army’s attacks against Carthage in the Three Punic Wars demonstrated the disciplined and honorable qualities of the army and their monopoly of power over the Mediterranean. As a result, both empires developed political integration.
I have a question for you guys, who do you think had the better citizenship Athens or Rome? In my opinion, I think Rome had the better citizenship than the Athens because they were way better than the Athens but the Athens were not the worse . I will be telling you my reasons on why I think Rome had way better citizenship. Athens were strict in the city-state of Athens but as I read more about the Athenians were making a council called Council 500. Rome seemed great and I was so surprised that the Romans were so good at wars. They did good in the Punic Wars. Which Was The Better System Athens or Romans?
The military might of Rome was second to none in its prime. Victorious battle after battle did nothing but
When the third triumvirate divided the Roman Empire after Caesar's death, Marcus Antonius was given domain over the eastern provinces. Foreseeing a future of warfare, Marcus Antonius intelligently appointed Lucius Verus to rule the eastern provinces alongside him. When the Parthian invasion occurred Marcus Antonius insured that he contributed his best generals and armies to recover his lost territories. The recovery was extremely successful that Marcus crowned a new vassel and conquered Mesopotamia which was also Parthian territory. One success led to another as Marcus and his son severely defeated the Marcomanni and the Quadi gaining Danubian provinces during the Marcomannic wars. Unfortunately, Lucius Verus died during these wars but that
They also had a mass of loyal citizens from their previous conquering.” In BC 264, Carthage and Rome entered into their first conflict came to be known as the first Punic War. This war had several battles and was fought over many territories. It became quickly apparent to the Romans that in order to defeat Carthage, it would have to be at both land and sea. “Carthage had a fleet comprised of quinquiremes which is a ship with five banks of oars.”
The powerful and well known Roman army was another key factor in maintaining the empire. The Roman army was large, well equipped, well trained, disciplined and skilled military force that was stationed throughout the empire to prevent uprisings and crush rebellion. Military training was a very important and arduous affair in the Roman Empire. It was essential for each soldier to achieve a high level of skill in fighting and using their weapons. They also had to march 30 kilometers 3 times a month wearing 20kg armor, do drills twice a day, learn to build camps, swim, mount and ride a horse and fight mock battles. The Roman army was quite ruthless when it came to crushing rebellion. They did not hesitate to hurt or even slaughter the people who went against the Roman rule.
The three Punic Wars was a series of battles fought between Carthage and Rome that lasted almost a century from 264 BC to 149 BC. As Carthage had the leading power of Western Mediterranean and Rome’s control over the peninsula of Italy. However, both of the two states had different intensions over the island of Sicily leading to the battles of the Punic Wars that soon later ended in a total defeat for Carthage. With the desire of controlling the island of Sicily, Carthage would still have the dominance power over the Mediterranean and as for Rome, it would strengthen its land defense policy and expand its Republic.
The second Punic war has seen the Carthaginian leader Hannibal’s crossing of the Alps. His army invaded Italy from the north and completely defeated the Roman army in several battles; however, they never achieved the most important goal of causing a political break between Rome and its allies.
Rome and the Latin cities had an on again, off again relationship, meaning they worked together then fought. The final being, the Great Latin War from 340-338 B. C. The Latin towns were incorporated into Rome. “Pedum, Lanuvium, Nomentum, and Aricia were given Roman citizenship, while the other towns were given partial citizenship.” (Military History Encyclopedia, n.d.) The towns with partial citizenship had to pay taxes and supply soldiers, however, they could not vote or hold office. Partial citizenship became known as the ‘Latin Rights’. (Morley, 1901, Ch10, para 13)
The Roman Republic became one of the most powerful and ruthless Empire 's on the face of the planet and to be a citizen was very appealing. This was such an admirable and highly sought after position; that it would cause envy throughout the people of that time. There were also 'pre-requisites ' recorded in the requirements of becoming a Roman citizen and keeping that role. Roman citizenship itself was originally difficult to obtain but once won, life as a citizen was easier and more refined than the 'lowly freemen '.
With the introduction of the hoplite phalanx to the Roman army, came a multitude of wars and long drawn out campaigns that the Romans were involved in throughout the republic period. One such campaign or campaigns that set the Roman republic as the uncontested superpower in the Mediterranean was the Punic Wars. Rome fought three wars against Carthage between 264 and 146 BCE. These wars constituted major events in the history of Rome and the Mediterranean basin (Marcel Le Glay 2009) p. 73. Though these wars were fought for reasons such as competing economics, revenge (most notably the Carthaginian general Hannibal), and a fear that could be related in today’s terms of opposing forces such as (the United States and Soviet Union feared each other during the Cold War) the fact is in the end Rome defeated the Carthaginians, not only were the Carthaginians defeated, but the city of Carthage was demolished and the people massacred or sold into slavery so as not to threaten the Romans ever again. In the fall of the city, in obedience to the Senate’s orders the inhabitants were reduced to slavery or forced to emigrate, the town was burnt and soil was