Who fought in the Punic Wars what was the end result and why was that end result significant?

Answer 1

The principals were Carthage and Rome. Rome won all three wars, and totally destroyed Carthage, making it the dominant power in the Western Mediterranean. In addition, as Macedonia had sided with Carthage, Rome set out to punish it, and so became involved with the Greek east, leading to its progressive inclusion of the Hellenistic kingdoms (the remnants of Alexander's empire) into the Roman Empire.

Answer 2

The first Punic war covered the years of 264 BC to 241 BC. The significance of Rome's defeat of Carthage was important. Rome realized that it had to create a powerful naval force to compete with the powerful navy of Carthage. After a few defeats and failures Rome successfully built a powerful navy. The defeat of Carthage gave Rome control of an important and strategic island, Sicily. Carthage was unable to support its hold on that island, leaving Rome to annex it. Rome was also able to annex Corsica and Sardinia. These events were extremely significant as Rome now replaced Carthage as the supreme naval power in the western Mediterranean Sea.

There was also a second and a third Punic war. In the Second Punic War, Hannibal used his economic and military power base in Spain to attack Italy and take Rome. He did not succeed because he lost his siege engines while crossing the Alps to get into Italy. Without these he could not attack Rome. Hannibal also hoped to get support from Rome's allies in Italy to obtain the manpower needed to defeat Rome. The level of support he received was insufficient. After an unsuccessful campaign in Spain, a second campaign succeeded in defeating the Carthaginians there and capturing Spain for Rome. After Carthage's power base was lost, the Romans attacked Carthage's home territory in Tunisia and won the final battle.

Taxing peace terms were imposed on Carthage. The terms contained the following restrictions on Carthage:

A. Carthage had to pay Rome a sum of 10,000 talents over a 50 year period of installments.

B. Carthage would retain its independence within the original boundaries in modern day Tunisia.

C. All Numidian territories had to be returned to Rome's ally under the rule of the Numidian ruler, Masinissa.

D. Carthage was not allowed to make war outside of Africa and only with Rome's permission.

E. Carthage's war fleet was to be destroyed with the exception of ten vessels.

D. Carthage was demilitarised. She was not allowed to have an army

Rome had taken over Spain and made an alliance with the kingdom of Numidia, a powerful neighbour of Carthage in Algeria. Rome was in control of the Western Mediterranean. For all practical purposes, Carthage was no longer a nation of power in the Mediterranean.

In the Third Punic War Rome destroyed Carthage because Carthage had created an army to fight raids in her territory by the Numidians. Rome saw this as a breach of the peace treaty which provided for the demilitarisation of Carthage. Rome was worried about a Carthaginian military resurgence and about the city's renewed prosperity which had been made possible through the enormous saving accrued from not having to finance an army. Rome decided to get rid of her rival. The final result of the wars was Rome's mastery of the western basing of the Mediterranean and the wealth that came from this. Rome also took over Tunisia and the city of Utica, which had allied with Rome, was made the main city and of trade in the area. Romans and Italic allies settled there as farmers. The area became a prime supplier of grain for Rome as she had the most fertile land under Rome's possession. When Utica's port silted, Carthage was rebuilt as a Roman city. She became the 4rth largest city in the Roman Empire with a population which has been estimated at 300-500,000.

Answer 3

Rome versus Carthage. Rome won, dominated the Western Mediterranean, and gained a foothold in the Eastern Mediterranean.