In the struggle against sovereignty in the Western Mediterranean the role of the Second Carthage War (218-201 BCE)

The conflcits between Carthage and Rome over hegemony of Western Mediterranian includes the largest battles the ancient ages has ever seen. Conflicts started in 264 B.C and the main motive for these wars was the rich minerals and trade routes that Western Mediterrian has offered. The Mediterrian had all what is needed for a civilaziton to become an empire, this was a majör role that drew both Carthage and Rome. The Second Punic War that started in 218 B.C caused wars to take place in almost everywhere in Western Mediterrian. In the beginning Spain based Carthagenian Empire with Hannibal's aggressive policies in lead achieved success. He hoped to bring the war to Rome's door hoping the Italian powers would switch sides and even though Hannibal's policies did not exactly achieved success it managed to prolong the war. Just like the rise of the Hannibal that brought the Rome to its knees, the rise of Scipio stabilized the scale and in the long run ensured Rome's victory. In 203 B.C the course of war was decided after the Battle of Zama where Hannibal and Scipio clashed. After the Second Punic War, Rome started to add most of the Carthagian lands to his own, becoming the Western Mediterian's ruler, this was seen as the main reason for Rome to become an empire.