Romans kept an eye on Carthaginian expansion. To ensure Carthage would not extend farther north to Europe, in 266 Rome "suggested" that Hasdrubal sign a special treaty. The document forbade the Carthaginians from crossing the Jucar Nao. At this time, Romans made an alliance with the city-state of Saguntum, which is located about twenty miles north of the Jucar. The Romans hoped to create a barrier to further Carthaginian expansion. Hannibal, twenty-six, took control after Hasdrubal was murdered by a Spanish native whose chief had been crucified by the Carthaginians in 221.
Because Hannibal hated the Romans, and wanted them to pay for their past actions against Carthage, he violated the treaty by crossing the Jucar River in 220 B.C. and attacked Rome's ally, Saguntum. One night, when the Saguntines were sleeping, Carthaginians killed some men. Whenthe Saguntine women witnessed their husbands being killed, some thew themselves from the housetops, others hanged themselves, and other killed their children then themselves. And that was the end of Saguntum, once a great and powerful city.
After hearing of Saguntum's fall, angry Romans sent ambassadors directly to Carthage. Their message was straight to the point- surrender Hannibal or face a war with Rome. This caused the Second Punic War, a seventeen-year-long conflict. The Romans won the Second Punic War and controlled the western Mediterranean world.
Because Hannibal hated the Romans, and wanted them to pay for their past actions against Carthage, he violated the treaty by crossing the Jucar River in 220 B.C. and attacked Rome's ally, Saguntum. One night, when the Saguntines were sleeping, Carthaginians killed some men. Whenthe Saguntine women witnessed their husbands being killed, some thew themselves from the housetops, others hanged themselves, and other killed their children then themselves. And that was the end of Saguntum, once a great and powerful city.
After hearing of Saguntum's fall, angry Romans sent ambassadors directly to Carthage. Their message was straight to the point- surrender Hannibal or face a war with Rome. This caused the Second Punic War, a seventeen-year-long conflict. The Romans won the Second Punic War and controlled the western Mediterranean world.