Why did Rome fight the Punic Wars?
After that defeat, Rome imposed crippling financial payments on Carhtage, designed to keep it impotent for 50 years, as Carthage had relied on mercenary forces. Carthage was such a good trader that it paid off the debt within 10 years, so Rome encouraged its allied North African kings to attack Carthage, declared Carthage’s defence against them as an attack on its allies, and destroyed the city to get rid of a dangerous competitor forever.
