The Punic Wars

• Founded about 700 B.C. by Phoenician colonists, Carthage had become an oligarchic and empire-building republic similar to Rome and had spread its influences across North Africa, southern Spain, Sardinia, Corsica, and Sicily.
• The Greek city-states of Sicily had for centuries been struggling with Carthage for control of the island, and the Romans had inherited the struggle when they took over responsibility for protecting their Greek allies.
• The Punic Wars (from Poeni, the Latin name for the Phoenicians) were waged on land and sea in three vicious rounds, between 264 and 146 B.C. 
• The first phase, Rome was able to force Carthage out of Sicily, but the North African city kept the rest of its empire.
• The second (and decisive) phase, the Carthaginian general Hannibal invaded Italy, defeated several Roman armies, and brought Rome to the brink of defeat. 
• Eventually, fearing a Carthaginian revival, Rome provoked a third war, and in 146 B.C., Carthage was captured after bitter fighting.
• Already in 202 B.C., Rome had won control of the western Mediterranean.