Carthage and Rome
Carthage was established in the northern coast of Africa and was originally a colony of Tyre. The history was not well documented, but an old story tells when Queen Dido was driven out of Tyre she and a band of fugitives fled and landed in northern Africa. She bought land from African princes and established Carthage. The Carthaginians were great traders and this was an ideal location for trade, being set on the Mediterranean coast. Carthage became one of the worlds great traders a developed a vast commercial empire.
The Romans and Carthaginians became rivals as they expanded looking for other lands to conquer for resources, especially on the western Mediterranean. Carthage strengths were in its wealth from trading, commercial resources and her brilliant leaders. Rome was much better organized and had steadfast, loyal citizens. The Romans had a more efficient army and political system as well.
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This conflict was known as the first Punic war and resulted in Rome becoming a dominate naval power of the world. Sicily at the time was controlled by three groups; Carthage held the western part, the southeastern controlled by the king of Syracuse and the northeastern corner possession by Campanian soldiers who, after serving the king of Syracuse, seized the city of Messana and murdered the inhabitants. The king of Syracuse attacked them and left them under siege. The Campanian soldiers know as Mamertines went to Rome for help. Initially, Rome hesitated due to Syracuse being in good terms with Rome, however Rome finally decided to help to avoid Carthage assisting in order to obtain more land in Sicily. This was the beginning of the first Punic