Final answer:
The Punic Wars were fought between Rome and Carthage to determine control over the Mediterranean Sea and its lucrative trade routes, not for Rome's riches, fertile land, or Egyptian territories.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reasons Behind the Punic Wars:
The Punic Wars were a series of three conflicts fought between Rome and Carthage from 264 BCE to 146 BCE, primarily for control over the Mediterranean Sea and the rich trade opportunities it afforded. Initially, Rome and Carthage were trade partners, but as Rome's influence grew to encompass the Italian peninsula, tension arose.
During the First Punic War, they contested control over Sicily, with Rome emerging victorious and annexing the island. Carthage's quest for revenge and access to resources such as gold and copper in Spain spurred the Second Punic War, led by the Carthaginian general, Hannibal. The conflict extended beyond Sicily to dominance over the Western Mediterranean. The third war resulted from sustained Roman enmity and led to the destruction of Carthage.
Rome's motivation to enter the wars often stemmed from the desire for expansion and the potential riches to be won, as voted by the Centuriate Assembly in the First Punic War. Meanwhile, Carthage aimed to maintain and reclaim its lost territory and influence. The struggle was not primarily for Rome's fertile lands or the lands of Egypt and Cairo, but for regional dominance in wealthy trading areas and strategic territories such as Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica.