The term "Punic" refers to the culture and language of the ancient Carthaginians, a civilization that thrived in North Africa, particularly in what is now Tunisia. The Punic language is a dialect of Phoenician, which was spoken by the people of Carthage and its territories. The Carthaginians were known for their maritime trade, impressive architecture, and conflicts with the Roman Republic during the Punic Wars. The Punic Wars were a series of three major conflicts between Carthage and Rome from 264 to 146 BCE. These wars were pivotal in shaping the power dynamics of the ancient Mediterranean world. The most famous figure from this era is Hannibal, a Carthaginian general