The Carthaginians were famed in antiquity for their seafaring skills and innovation in ship design. The empire their navy protected stretched from Sicily to the Atlantic coast of Africa. Able to match the tyrants of Sicily and the Hellenistic kingdoms Carthage's dominance of the seas would be challenged and ultimately replaced by the Romans, who were able to create a navy that became just as successful as their land army.
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Definition
Timeline
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535 BCEBattle of Alalia. Carthaginian navy, in alliance with Etruscans, defeated Greek ships off the island of Corsica.
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264 BCE - 241 BCEFirst Punic War. Carthage cedes Sicily to Rome.
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260 BCEFirst Roman naval victory against Carthage off Mylae in the First Punic War.
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260 BCERome builds a fleet of 120 ships in just 60 days to fight the First Punic War.
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258 BCERome wins a naval battle against Carthage at Sulcis during the First Punic War.
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256 BCERoman naval victory against Carthage off Ecnomus during the First Punic War.
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249 BCECarthage defeats Rome in a naval battle at Drepanum during the First Punic War.
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247 BCEHamilcar Barca raids southern Italy and then lands on Sicily during the First Punic War.
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242 BCEA Roman fleet besieges the Carthaginian stronghold of Drepana on Sicily during the First Punic War.
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241 BCERoman naval victory off the Aegates Islands leads to victory over Carthage, ending the First Punic War.
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218 BCE - 201 BCESecond Punic War.
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149 BCE - 146 BCEThird Punic War.
