Ultimatum

Austria-Hungary then issued a ten-point ultimatum, giving Serbia 48 hours to respond. It demanded action against anti-Austrian organisations and publications, punishment of those involved in the assassination, and Austrian participation in investigating the conspiracy inside Serbia.

On 27 November 1958, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev issued an ultimatum to the Western powers. An ultimatum is a final demand backed by a threatened consequence. Khrushchev wanted to remove Western influence from a city whose divided status was weakening Soviet control over East Germany.

In 3.20, Rome responds to Saguntum’s fall by demanding that Carthage surrender Hannibal and the members of his council or face war. This is an ultimatum, a final demand backed by a threatened consequence. Polybius presents both choices as painful: surrender would bring disgrace and harm, while war would bring hardship and danger.