The Punic Wars were a series of three wars fought between the [[Roman Republic]] and the [[Carthaginian Empire]]. These wars were focused in the western Mediterranean, and stretched off and on from 264 to 146 BC. The term "Punic" refers to [[Carthage]], which was originally a colony of the [[Phoenicians]] which grew to become an independent city-state and later empire.
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'''The Punic Wars''' were a series of three wars fought between the [[Roman Republic]] and the [[Carthaginian Empire]]. These wars were focused in the western Mediterranean, and stretched off and on from 264 to 146 BC. The term "Punic" refers to [[Carthage]], which was originally a colony of the [[Phoenicians]] which grew to become an independent city-state and later empire.