What was the major cause of the punic wars? a. cultural differences made rome and carthage enemies. b. hannibal wanted to destroy rome. c. rome wanted to expand its empire and carthage threatened to control the mediterranean. d. carthage was a roman colony and wanted independence.

The correct answer is C. Rome wanted to expand its empire and Carthage threatened to control the Mediterranean. Sicily was a cultural and trading melting pot and everyone met there and traded. Rome wanted to control it but it was under rule by Carthage. Naturaly, they went to war and became mortal enemies. At one point in time Rome even claimed that as long as Carthage exists there will never be world peace, so they waged war so much that they eventually erased the country from existence.