Punic War Why is this listed as a Punic war While it occured between the first and second it is not actually a Punic War The Punic Wars were all between Rome and Carthage It isn t exactly part of the Punic wars but it is related to them It was triggered as a result of the after effects of the First Punic war and the after effects of the Mercenary War triggered another conflict between Rome and Carthage very small and brief which exaggerated the impact of the post war indemnity that Rome demanded of Carthage It can be argued that it was the oppressive conditions of the treaties and the resentment by Carthage Hannibal Barca that lead to the Second Punic War so it did involve the Rome Carthage conflicts indirectly It also was the event that elevated the Barcid family in Carthaginian society because of Hamilcar s generalship in the war It could be argued that without this boost to the family fortunes that Hannibal Barca would not have been in a position to trigger the Second Punic war So is it part of the Punic wars Maybe maybe not Is it related to the Punic wars Absolutely without the Punic wars it wouldn t have occurred and arguably without it the second Punic war might not have occurred or would at least have been very different