ROME VERSUS CARTHAGE: The War at Sea

1-207360

The epic struggle between Carthage and Rome, two of the superpowers of the ancient world, is most famous for land battles in Italy, on the Iberian peninsula, and in North Africa. But warfare at sea, which played a vital role in the First and Second Punic Wars, rarely receives the attention it deserves and sometimes leads to a distorted understanding of Roman naval warfare.

This study focuses on the monumental clashes of the Carthaginian and Roman fleets in the Mediterranean, includes the latest archaeological discoveries, and a fresh look at the ancient sources. The Romans' seafaring tradition, skill, determination, and resourcefulness eventually gave them a decisive advantage.