Storiascopio · Era 6 of 12 · primary year 5
The First Punic War
264–241 BC · Sicily and the surrounding seas
In short
Rome and Carthage, a powerful Phoenician city in today's Tunisia, clashed over control of Sicily. The Romans were strong on land but had no real fleet, so they quickly built hundreds of ships. To fight at sea as if on dry land they invented the ‘raven’ (corvus), a movable bridge with a hook that grabbed the enemy ship. After 23 years of war Carthage had to give up Sicily, which became the first Roman province.
Why it matters With this victory Rome began to become a sea power, no longer just a power in Italy.
Source: Treccani, entry “Puniche, guerre”
Where we are in the era “Ancient Rome”
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about 753 BCEvent 5 of 25AD 476
Your turn
Name ______________________ Class ______ Date __________
When did it happen? Find the date at the top and write it here:
Tell it in your own words: what happened?
Draw the scene below.
storiascopio.com/en/event/the-first-punic-war/ · free worksheet, you may photocopy it for your class