The major outcome of the Punic Wars, fought between Rome and Carthage from 264 to 146 BC, was the establishment of Rome as the dominant power in the Mediterranean region. The three conflicts concluded with the complete destruction of Carthage, culminating in the Third Punic War, and the annexation of its territories by Rome. The victory vastly expanded Rome’s influence, resources, and territory, leading to increased wealth and the eventual transformation of the Roman Republic into an empire. The Punic Wars set the stage for Rome's military and political dominance for centuries.