The Punic Wars!!!

Sure enough, the Romans were not satisfied with the control over sea trade routes in the Mediterranean. they wanted total control over the lands in and around the Mediterranean, this ment that Carthage was in its way. Logistically, Ecnomus was one of the largest sea battles in history. Under the command of Lucius Manlius Vulso, and Marcus Atilius Regulus the Roman fleet set out to ferry a very large Roman army to North Africa. Upon meeting a Carthaginian fleet, off the Sicilian coast, the two engaged in battle. A lot of naval battle jargon later, Rome won and continued on to the tip of Africa closest to Sicily, Utica, the closest city to Carthage.
As usual when things go too well for an invading army, is when generals should start to worry. Something is bound to go wrong. Call it fate or Calypso, it seems like the Mediterranean has it out for ships invading the Middle East or Africa. In short a big storm, (Careful to use big as an understatement) 100,000 people died. One would think looking at a map that they could just stand up on the cost of Africa at that point...really its not that far away...Not to be outdone in their stupidity and knowledge of how to screw up a perfectly good blunder, Rome built another fleet and consul Appius Clausius Pulcher spread grain in front of sacred chicken on his ship's deck for some reason. Then when the chicken refused to eat, he had them thrown over board. Sometimes its hard to believe that Rome is the foundation for the West...but then again sometimes its not. Basically when the Roman fleet arrived at their destination where they were suppose to blockade the Carthaginians, the Carthage navy double backed and trapped the Roman navy and destroyed it. Unfortunately fate does sometimes conspire against the wise as in 241 BCE, Rome won a decisive victory victory in the Aegates Island and cut the supply route for the Carthage army in Sicily and they had no choice but to relinquish their control of the islands.

So there we go, basically Rome for most of this part was playing the role of Achilles, just a brute warrior while Hector the wise and noble man got destroyed for his lack of imperial prowess.

Next time on The Punic Wars!!!
Trebia, Hannibal the Cannibal finally comes into the picture, was he really a cannibal? find out. Also Lake Trasimene, why such a gay name for a lake? and is the pacific blue like i picture it in my dreams? I hope to see my friend Andy again, I hope i get to shake his hand...I mean, has Rome met its match in the territory of future film characters renamed as generals?