Final answer:
Hamilcar Barca led a Carthaginian army to Iberia to recover from losses after the First Punic War, establishing resources that his son Hannibal would later use in the Second Punic War.
Step-by-step explanation:
Following the First Punic War, the Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca led an army to Iberia primarily to compensate for the losses Carthage suffered in the war. The loss of Sicily and the subsequent seizure of Corsica and Sardinia by Rome left Carthage seeking new sources of revenue and military strength. By capturing rich Iberian mines and recruiting local Celts as mercenary forces, Hamilcar intended to both replenish Carthage's war indemnity payments to Rome and prepare for future conflicts.
Years later, Hamilcar's son, Hannibal, would use these established resources to launch a surprise attack, resulting in the outbreak of the Second Punic War. Hannibal's invasion of Italy marked one of the most notable military campaigns in history, although ultimately Carthaginian persistence was inadequate against Roman resilience and strategic finesse.