The First Punic War was the first of three wars between Rome and Carthage, the great naval power of the western Mediterranean. It began over control of Sicily, when both powers became involved in a dispute at Messana. Rome, mainly a land power, built its first large fleet and used boarding devices to win sea battles, and it also fought a failed expedition to Africa. The war lasted over two decades and was costly for both sides. It ended after a Roman naval victory at the Aegates Islands, and Carthage had to give up Sicily and pay a large indemnity. Sicily became Rome's first overseas province, and the bitterness of the defeat contributed to the later outbreak of the Second Punic War.
Before and after
- from 274 BCE to 168 BCESyrian Wars
- c. 270s BCEAristarchus of Samos proposes that the Earth orbits the Sun
- from 267 BCE to 261 BCEChremonidean War
- from 264 BCE to 146 BCEPunic Wars
- from 264 BCE to 241 BCEFirst Punic War
- 261 BCEBattle of Agrigentum
- 259 BCEBirth of Qin Shi Huang
- 258 BCEBattle of Sulci
- 3rd century BCEArchimedes' principle
More in Wars, politics & history
- c. 3,101 BCENarmer unifies Egypt
- c. 509 BCECleisthenes lays the foundations of Athenian democracy
- 335 BCEAlexander the Great crosses into Asia
- 147 BCERome destroys Carthage
- 2 September 31 BCEOctavian defeats Antony and Cleopatra at Actium
- August 70 CEThe Romans destroy the Temple in Jerusalem
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 3rd century BCE.