The Punic Wars

Question 1

What was the cause of the FIRST Punic War?

Answer 1

At that time, Carthage was a powerhouse. Carthage conquered most of North and West Africa, and they conquered half of Sicily. Rome was starting to get scared, and felt like Carthage was too strong for them, but most of all they wanted control of Sicilys grain. Politicians such as Marcus Portius Cato also thought that Carthage should be taken down, and that they should get ahold of Sicilys grain, thus starting the war.

Question 2

What was the effect of the FIRST Punic War?

Answer 2

The war lasted for about 23 years. Rome didn’t have a navy before the punic war but they built a great navy because they had to fight the Carthagininans. The Romans also found a Carthaginian warship washed up on a beach, and they not only borrowed it, but they also approved upon it. The outcome of this war was that Carthage had to leeave Sicicly because Rome won, and because Carthage left Sicily, Rome got ahold of Sicilys grain.