Name given to the three wars between Rome and Carthage (264-241, 218-202 and 149-146 BC), which established Rome’s rise as the leading Mediterranean power and were terminated by the destruction of Carthage.
I. The 1st Punic War (264-241)
The 1st PW was ignited by a conflict with Messana [1] standing at its centre. After the death of Agathocles, the ruler of Syracuse, [2] in 278 BC, his discharged Oscan mercenaries, the Mamertini (named after the god of war Ma…