How Did The Punic Wars Contribute To The Rise Of Carthage?

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Carthage was the first foreign opponent to come in touch with Rome, they fought series of war against Rome. Carthage rose to become a major force to be reckoned with, during the Punic Wars, which made Rome nervous since there existed the unknown possibility of Rome being knocked off its throne of power. Carthage was known for its strong naval army that no other army dared to go to battle against without having a serious battle plan to overtake them. Most of the momentum to power is much to the credit of Alexander the Great during his conquests after 332 BCE. After the fall of the Phoenician city of Tyre most citizens fled and were spared their lives by Alexander; being the efficient traders they were, they were able to quickly re-establish the wealth they had, which greatly helped them build their defenses and forces to rival that of Rome’s. …show more content…

When the Tyrians were driven from Tyre they fled to Carthage, which, at that time, was being inhabited by native Africans who were forced to flee by the Tyrians. The large majority of those who managed to arrive to Carthage were aristocrats, and they were able to have their lives spared by Alexander the Great by buying their lives. These same families that were spared managed to expand the city’s wealth exponentially, making it the wealthiest city in the Mediterranean in less than 70 years, with 220 docks generating immense trade while supporting a naval fleet that made Rome extremely nervous. (Mark, 2011). Leading up to the First Punic War, Rome and Carthage had their