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Cultural Comparison and the Pyrrhic Wars. 5.3. Greeks (Macedonia as Hegemon ). Society – Greek in people and culture Politics – Oligarchies, democracies, tyrannies, and monarchies based on location Economics – Agricultural and trading (sea and land)
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Greeks (Macedonia as Hegemon) • Society – Greek in people and culture • Politics – Oligarchies, democracies, tyrannies, and monarchies based on location • Economics – Agricultural and trading (sea and land) • Military – Phalanx and cavalry by land / Variations of the trireme by sea – soldiers have stake in win/loss depending on location.
Hellenized People • Society – Varies by location but Greek in culture • Politics – Typically monarchies (kingdoms) • Economics – Agriculture and trading • Military – Varies by location but would resemble phalanx. Soldiers have stake depending on size of the kingdom. Bigger kingdom = less stake
Latins • Society – Latin people but Greek culture • Politics – Small monarchies, oligarchies, or republics • Economics – Primarily agriculture with trading • Military – Not a phalanx, but massed infantry. Soldiers pulled directly from society
Carthaginian • Society – Phoenician people and culture • Politics – Oligarchy • Economics – Agricultural and HEAVY sea trade • Military – Massed infantry and powerful navy. Soldiers from throughout empire
The Pyrrhic Wars 280 B.C. – 272 B.C.
Setting the Scene • Tarentum, Magna Graecia • Issues – including Rome • Calls for aid • Pyrrhus of Epirus (Greek) comes to Italy in the defense of Magna Graecia • Rome defeated in several battles – Heraclea 280, Asculum 279 • Pyrrhic Victory
What Pyrrhus Hoped • Italian tribes would leave Roman Confederation • Magna Graecia would be free of Roman influence • Rome refuses, no Italians really join Greece • Why?
Rome Does Not Fall • Pyrrhus, as part of his contract, helps the Greeks in Sicily – 278 BC • Defeats Carthaginians – Rome and Carthage work together • Attrition takes hold • Return to Italy – Tarentum under siege by Rome • Defeat – Beneventum 275 BC • Retreat to Tarentum – 2/3 of army gone • 272 BC – “What a battlefield I am leaving for Carthage and Rome”
Legacy of the Pyrrhic Wars • The Roman Confederation displays its stability • Rome gains experience fighting against Greeks (phalanx) • Rome gains experience fighting against elephants – the pila • Rome annexes Tarentum 272 BC and Italy 270 BC (Rhegium)