How did Rome’s expansion after the Punic wars affect Rome’s social development

Explanation:

The Punic Wars against Carthage helped skyrocket Rome into the dominant empire we remember it for today. Firstly, many Italians were displaced to Rome for a multitude of reasons, but this made it the most populous city in Europe and West Asia. The Punic Wars also strengthened Rome's senate and defined its' role in times of war. The Senate acted as a negotiating body during the Punic Wars for Rome. Most importantly, Rome expanded vastly during this time. They gained territories like Sardinia, Corsica, and Spain. Perhaps most important for the time, they also gained Sicily which opened trading with Eastern empires to bring in more cargo to Rome. Sicily would also later be useful in their conflicts with Egypt. Even though there were more people living in Rome, those people were living great lives in the years following the Punic Wars.

More negatively, Roman farmers, who were once the backbone of the Republic, were now city-dwellers as the countryside became quickly abandoned as citizens began contributing more to the war front. Farmers couldn't go back as there were new and improved farms with more space and more slaves that they just couldn't compete with.

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