Why did the punic war happened?

Answer 1

The Punic wars occured from the clash of interest between Rome and Carthage. The original question reads Why did the first punic war happen?

The details of the events leading to this major and significant war are as follows:

A. About 264 BC BCE a small band of former mercenary soldiers became a band of rebels and saw the city of Messana which was on the Sicilian coast nearest to Italy. This group sought to exploit the town and use its resources to their advantage. They took control of the town.

B. The people there appealed to Carthage for help. This appeal, complicated by the presnce of Syracuse on Sicily, was not workable.

C. These people then asked Rome for help. Based on a similar experience themselves with other rebel bands, the Romans came to the aid of the inhabitants, now victims of these mercenary pirates.

D. Rome could not resist the temptation of securing a foothold in Sicily. Rome deemed Carthage not prepared to interfer with Rome's plans on this island, and from this point came the ensuing problem of Carthage and Rome. War was the next step and thus the beginning of the First Punic War.