264–146 BC
Rome and Carthage fought three wars across more than a century for dominance of the western Mediterranean. Hannibal Barca's march across the Alps and victories at Trebia, Trasimene, and Cannae brought Rome close to strategic defeat, but Rome endured. The conflict ended in 146 BC with the destruction of the city of Carthage, the termination of the Carthaginian state, and Rome's emergence as the dominant power of the ancient western Mediterranean.
Chapter-by-chapter narrative with maps, primary sources, and key events.
Explore battles on a live map with a timeline slider and territory overlays.
Deep-dive into every major engagement — commanders, casualties, significance.
Biographical flip cards with real portraits, facts, and full biography pages.
Trace each figure's full life journey — birth, education, battles, and death — on a live map.
Scroll-driven visualization of casualties — each dot a thousand lives.
Weapons, war machines, and the military innovations that defined how this conflict was fought.
Cause-and-effect chains tracing the war's long shadow on history.
War crimes, massacres, and the darkest chapters of this conflict — documented for history.
Rome and Carthage fought three wars across more than a century for dominance of the western Mediterranean. Hannibal Barca's march across the Alps and victories at Trebia, Trasimene, and Cannae brought Rome close to strategic defeat, but Rome endured. The conflict ended in 146 BC with the destruction of the city of Carthage, the termination of the Carthaginian state, and Rome's emergence as the dominant power of the ancient western Mediterranean.
The Punic Wars was fought from 264 to 146 BC.
The Punic Wars was fought between Roman Republic and Carthaginian Empire.
An estimated 650,000 people died in The Punic Wars, including roughly 450,000 military and 200,000 civilian deaths. Figures are scholarly estimates and vary by source.
Major engagements included Siege and Destruction of Carthage, Battle of Cannae, Battle of Cape Ecnomus, and Battle of the Trebia.