The war began due to conflicting interests between the two, especially the expansion of the Roman Republic. At the end of the war, thousands of lives lost, Rome rose to power, conquering Carthage and becoming the most powerful state in the Mediterranean. During one moment of the Second War, or Hannibalic War, Carthage almost brought Rome to its knees. With reinforcements from their Gallic allies, Carthage defeated the Roman army at the battles of Trebia, Trasimene, and Cannae. If Rome had not defeated Carthage, the history of Western civilization would have been drastically altered, shaping a world very different from the one we live in today. They say “All roads lead to Rome”. There is a lot of truth in this quote because Rome, with all its power and glory, paved the way for our modern society; it allowed Christianity to spread and flourish, the basis of democracy, and served as a melting pot of cultures and customs. Rome can be considered one of the greatest influences on Western civilization, leaving us priceless gifts that we will always remember