The correct answer is D. The Carthaginians were the major rival to Rome's territorial expansion.
Step-by-step explanation
The Punic Wars were a set of wars between the Roman Empire in and city-state Cartago in the Mediterranean Sea between the year 264 B.C. and 146 B.C. Basically the Punic Wars were caused by the expansion of Rome in the Carthaginians colonies in the Mediterranean islands mainly Sicily, as the Carthaginians became an obstacle and rival for the Roman Empire to expand their territory. Indeed, at the beginning of the Punic Wars Roma was an emergent society and Cartago was an established city-state, but when the wars ended this situation was reversed because Roma got the maximum influence in the Mediterranean. So, the correct answer is D. The Carthaginians were the major rival to Rome's territorial expansion.