What are the impacts of the Punic Wars?

The Punic Wars had a number of important impacts to the Roman society and politics. By 164 BC, Rome was a very different country then before the Punic Wars that saw immediate and long term effects. Some changes that occurred included a shift in political influence and wealth to the senatorial class, peasant community dynamics were changing with many moving to the cities, while work and food became scarcer. The wealthy benefited, with their lifestyles becoming more luxurious through the Roman cultural exposure to Greek influence. From this stemmed a new social climate that emerged after the many years of warfare.

"The main cause of the Punic Wars was the conflicts of interest between the existing Carthaginian Empire and the expanding Roman Republic. A result of the first Punic War and the Romans was the decisive naval victory against the Carthaginians at the Aegate Islands. This gave Rome full control of Sicily and Corsica."