Changes

The climate in North Africa in Antiquity was much wetter than today, and it was excellent for the growing of grains such as wheat. The Province of Africa became the breadbasket of the Roman Empire for centuries. Over this period, the Annonae system was established and allowed the free distribution of grain to Roman citizens.<ref>Erdkamp, Paul The Cambridge Companion to Ancient Rome. United Kingdom (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2000), p 213</ref> Most of this grain came from the province of Africa and the former territories of Carthage. The conquest of their bitter enemies' former lands allowed them to develop a secure and cheap food source for the city. This allowed the economy to grow in Rome and maintain social stability in the sprawling metropolis for over seven centuries.

The rivalry between Rome and Carthage was one of the greatest in Antiquity. The Romans' victory in the Third Punic War was total and led to the disappearance of the Carthaginian State. The destruction of Carthage was critical in Rome's rise and helped it become the superpower in the Mediterranean. The destruction of Carthage allowed Rome to become the only significant naval power in the sea, which was essential in the growth and maintenance of its Empire. The control of the Mediterranean allowed the Roman Republic to dominate trade, allowing it to grow rich.