Question

Romans consider Carthaginians barbaric people chiefly because of this?

Answer 1

Romans viewed Carthaginians as barbaric due to cultural practices like tattooing and alleged violence. Roman societal attitudes and aggressive military conflicts, especially the brutal Third Punic War, reinforced this perception.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Romans considered the Carthaginians barbaric for several reasons. This perception stemmed from Roman views on foreign cultures and military confrontations, such as the Punic Wars.

The Romans, influenced by Greek opinions, often viewed non-Roman and non-Greek cultures as inferior.

The Carthaginians' rituals, such as tattooing, their reputed love of violence, and their life of perceived murder and robbery contributed to this view.

In comparison, Carthage's military threat and their different lifestyle and culture further solidified their barbaric stereotype in the eyes of the Romans.

The Punic Wars, especially the Third Punic War which ended in Carthage's utter destruction, underscored the Romans' contempt for the Carthaginians, as reflected in the Roman senator Cato the Elder's call for Carthage's destruction in every speech he made in the senate.

Answer 2

The Romans viewed the Carthaginians as barbaric due to their different lifestyle, specifically their practice of tattooing and perceived propensity for violence. This notion was amplified by their reputation as a formidable enemy and the Romans' contempt for foreign cultures deemed inferior.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Romans considered the Carthaginians barbaric mainly because of their lifestyle, which included practices such as tattooing their bodies and their reputation for violence.

Carthage was seen as a society of murderers and robbers, which Romans thought made them suitable for violent entertainment like gladiatorial games. Additionally, the Carthaginians' fierce desire for revenge after the losses and humiliations they suffered at the hands of the Romans in the Punic Wars only fueled this perception.

Roman views on barbarism were heavily influenced by Greek attitudes. They often viewed foreign cultures like the Carthaginians, Germans, and Thracians as inferior and only suitable for slavery or subjugation.

Such attitudes were not just a matter of cultural pride but were also instrumental in justifying the Roman policy of expansion and the brutal military campaigns they frequently undertook.

Romans' contempt for barbarians often translated into ruthless military actions, as witnessed in the relentless destruction of Carthage during the Punic Wars.

The final sack of Carthage in 146 BCE epitomized the Roman sentiment towards the Carthaginian people—thousands were killed or enslaved, and the city was systematically destroyed.