Materials

• Class notes (see bolded text in Instructional Activities below)
• Brief history of the Punic Wars
• Overhead projector (optional)
• Teacher-selected reading, worksheet, or activity

Instructional Activities

NOTE: The following Web resource may be helpful in teaching this session:

•“The Punic Wars.” <http://history.boisestate.edu/westciv/punicwar/>.

1. Review content covered to this point in the unit .
   
   
2. Ask students to list ways the United States came to be a world power. Encourage them to consider what contributed to the nation’s status as world power. Guide discussion by suggesting that U.S. contributions in the Spanish American War, World War I, and World War II played a large role in establishing the country as a world power.
   
   
3. Ask students if United States victories in these and other conflicts contributed to the spread of American culture around the world. Encourage students to provide examples of this (e.g., music, movies, clothing, slang). Explain that Rome also was a world power, and its culture spread following the Punic Wars.
   
   
4. Put the following note on the board or overhead:
   
        Following its victory over Carthage in the Punic Wars, Rome dominated the Mediterranean basin for 100 years. This contributed to the spread of Roman culture throughout the area.
   
   
5. Provide a brief history of the Punic Wars, using the textbook and/or Internet resources. (The Web site above, titled “The Punic Wars,” may be of assistance.) Ensure the discussion includes the notes for #6 below.
   
   
6. Put the following notes on the board or overhead:
   
   Punic Wars: Rome v. Carthage (264-146 B.C.)
   • Competition for trade was a contributing factor to the wars.
   • Hannibal invaded the Italian Peninsula.
   • The three wars ended in Roman victory, the destruction of Carthage, and the expansion of trade and wealth for Rome.
   
   
7. Assign a teacher-selected reading, worksheet, or other reinforcement activity, using available teacher resources.