ABSTRACT
The relations of Rome and Carthage went through a long series of stages. Their early relations, from the sixth to the fourth centuries BC , were apparently mainly commercial, as indicated by the treaties made between them. The wars they fought from 264 BC onwards were centred on control of Sicily and were largely a development of the preceding series of crises discussed in the last chapter. The fi rst stage in their relationship which was overtly political is their joint opposition to King Pyrrhos in south Italy and Sicily.
