ABSTRACT
The vicissitudes of the struggle between Carthage and the Greeks in Sicily, which recommenced about 400 BC after a period of economic recession and continued till the days of the first Punic War, belong to the history of the Greek rather than of the Roman world. Only two ways seemed open to Rome to terminate the struggle: to take the offensive more actively against the Punic province in Sicily, or to strike at Africa. But she did show great adaptability in taking to the sea; it was the old story of the struggle of the elephant and the whale, and she succeeded by determination rather than by technical skill. The Carthaginian government gave Hamilcar Barca full powers to negotiate for peace. The war showed clearly what the struggle with Hannibal proved beyond all doubt, that Rome's allies were bound to her by other ties than those of slave to mistress.
