First Punic War (11 Jan 264 Jahr v. Chr. – 24 Okt 241 Jahr v. Chr.)

Beschreibung:

Roman Republic vs. Carthage
Was primarily a long drawn out battle on the island of Sicily. Carthage was a trading superpower of the Western Mediterranean and had holdings on the western half of Sicily. Rome did not want to see Carthage take all of Sicily and be right on her doorstep, seeing as she had just secured the whole Italian penninsula.
Through several years of back and forth fighting, Rome steadily pushed Carthage forces to the western tip of Sicily and had basically exhausted Carthages will and resources needed to replenish her losses in Naval battles. Though some estimates say Roman losses were worse, wealthy citizens forked out the necessary funds to replace those losses.
As for Rome, the end of the First Punic War marked the start of Rome's expansion beyond the Italian Peninsula. Sicily became the first Roman province (Sicilia) governed by a former praetor, instead of an ally. Sicily would become very important to Rome as a source of grain.[1] Importantly, Syracuse was granted nominal independent ally status for the lifetime of Hiero II, and was not incorporated into the Roman province of Sicily until after it was sacked by Marcus Claudius Marcellus during the Second Punic War.
Following this war, Carthage made many territorail gains in Spain. Carthage would use Spain to fund manpower to its future military excursions.