Carthage And Rome: The Three Punic Wars

Introduction

Rome and Carthage were almost equal in strength and resources. From the early days of the Republic, Rome and Carthage maintained a friendly relationship and even signed a treaty against Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, who was a threat to both states.

Comparison

Ancient Carthage was a wealthy state with a small population, it employed foreigners to do the unwanted jobs and relied on foreign mercenaries rather than citizens to do her fighting. The mercenaries did not have a sense of belonging to the Carthaginian nation.

According to Morey (1901), Carthage was a wealthier nation with brilliant leaders, rich in commercial resources. It had a more powerful navy and they showed their greatness in their successes. On the other hand, Rome was better organized and had a more efficient army. It depended on the well-organized political system and the character of its people. And the greatness of Rome was revealed in the dark hours of disaster and trial (Chapter 14, para. 5).

Conclusion

The three Punic Wars between Carthage and Rome lasted over a century, beginning in 264 BC and ending with the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC. Rome was the dominant power throughout the Italian peninsula, while Carthage was the leading maritime power in the world. By defeating Carthage in the Punic Wars, Rome turned Africa into a province of its