The Punic Wars were a series of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage from 264 BC to 146 BC. Carthage was a wealthy Phoenician colony with a strong naval empire and trading power, while Rome had a growing land-based empire of soldiers and farmers after conquering Greece. The first Punic War was fought in Sicily and resulted in a Roman victory through their use of a boarding bridge to defeat the Carthaginian navy. The second Punic War featured the famous Carthaginian general Hannibal marching from Spain over the Alps into Italy, while the Roman general Scipio defeated Carthage in North Africa. After Carthage refused peace, the third Punic War ended with Rome burning