What led to the Punic Wars, and how did it affect Rome?

The thing that led to the Punic Wars was because the two empires wanted to rule, or claim, a specific location. The Roman Empire was in the phase of expanding their empire throughout Europe, and they wanted land that was controlled by the Carthaginian Empire. Because they both wanted the land, they fought for it. Because Rome won all three of the Punic Wars, it affected them by giving them the land that they fought for, Rome took control over the land. Hamilcar Barca, the ruler of the Carthaginian Empire, had to surrender himself and the land to the Roman Empire, which gave the Roman Empire the land.