Final answer:
Legend has it that Rome spread salt on Carthage to prevent crops from growing, but historical evidence for this is scant. Rome's victory led to North Africa becoming its breadbasket. Economic and social changes followed, including the control of migration and protection of agriculture.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to legend, Rome spread salt on Carthage after its destruction in the Third Punic War so that no crops would grow, signaling a curse on the land and its people. However, historical evidence to support this specific act is lacking. The defeat of Carthage in 146 BCE and its subsequent leveling by the Romans did ensure that it would not rise again as a competing power.
After the war, Rome dominated the region and transformed North Africa into a vital source of grain and olive oil, making it the "breadbasket of Rome." The intensification of agricultural production led to significant economic and social changes in the region, including the establishment of fortified frontier posts known as limes to control the movement of people and protect crops.