The Punic Wars 264 BC -- 146 BC The Punic Wars were wars between the Carthagins and the Romans. These wars took place in three separate times and places. The wars were called the Punic Wars because the Romans called the Carthaginians Poeni. The first of the three wars started in 246 BC, and the last of the three ended in 146 BC. The first war was 23 years long. The second war was 17 and finally the last war was 3 years. There was a 23 year resting period between the first and second wars. And a 52 resting period between the second and third Punic Wars. The Romans won all three wars.