The Punic Wars: Carthage As A Global Superpower

Introduction The conflict of the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage helped to launch Rome as a global superpower (Carlin, 2008). In addition to financial gains from territories it concentrated the Roman armies power, through creating a generation of battle hardened veterans and determined their need to be a naval power.
Carthage as a Power: According to legend, Carthage was founded by the Phoenician Queen known as Dido in 813 BCE. (Mark, 2011). For several hundred years it was a small port city. When Alexander the Great took the city of Tyre in 332 BCE, those who were wealthy enough to buy their lives fled to the small city, bringing considerable wealth with them. It was on the back of this wealth that Carthage was able to set itself up as a major trade city, enslaving nearby Africans and extracting tribute from the nearby lands. It didn’t take long for Carthage to be a hub for trade, with merchant vessels constantly entering and leaving port. One of the biggest strengths of Carthage was in its economic prosperity. Naturally, in order to protect those ships, Carthage grew in naval power. This power helped Carthage to expand its empire, and caused it to come into contact with the Romans.
Rome’s Strength:
According to Morey (1901), the Roman army was glorified, giving great honor to those who showed bravery. Conquering generals aspired to receive a Triumph, a parade of sorts, through the streets of Rome in which the army was able to show off the spoils of war. By far, the biggest advantage of the Roman military was their discipline. (Carlin, 2008). Politicians in Rome were largely soldiers, and the organization of the military was reflected in the government. With both Rome and Carthage expanding towards one another it was only a matter of time before they were in direct competition for