Punic Wars

views updated May 11 2018

Punic Wars (264–146 bc) Series of wars between Rome and Carthage. In the First Punic War (264–241 bc), Carthage was forced to surrender Sicily and other territory. In the Second (218–201 bc), the Carthaginians under Hannibal invaded Italy and won a series of victories. They were eventually forced to withdraw, whereupon the Romans invaded North Africa and defeated Hannibal. The Third Punic War (149–146 bc) ended in the destruction of Carthage.