Who Fought In The Punic Wars?

The Punic Wars were fought in the period from 264 BC to 146 BC between Rome and Carthage; the Punic Wars took place in three phases starting with the First Punic War (264-241 BC) followed by the Second Punic War (218-202 BC) and concluding with the Third Punic War (149-146 BC). The wars took place as a result of conflicting interests of both powers in expanding their influence in the strategically important places in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Carthaginian Empire was at the height of its power before the wars but at the end of the Third Punic War ceased to exist. The center of the Carthaginian Empire was the Phoenician city state of Carthage located near Tunis in modern day Tunisia; the term Punic comes from the Phoenicians who were the ancestors of the Carthaginians.

Rome was a growing power at the time and was involved in several disputes with the Carthaginians like the issue of controlling Sicily which led to the First Punic War which proved to be successful for the Romans followed by the Second Punic War which was notable for the invasion of Italian peninsula by the Punic commander Hannibal. The invasion failed and Carthage lost its influence with the city being destroyed by Roman legions in 146 BC during the Third Punic War.