Hey everyone! So, I have a question, is there any possible point in time after the Punic Wars where a lasting Punic state based in Africa could've survived? Or did the Punic Wars crush the idea of any African Punic State?
I think you might be able to get earlier successes than that with the right POD. In particular, I think Rome getting completely drained by a more extensive and successful Social Wars combined with rebellions made by its vassals could probably do it.That would be very difficult, since you'd have to do it before the region gets too Romanised (no later than the mid-late 4th century or so) but after Rome can suffer a persistant power decline. And Carthage region was Rome's breadbasket, which Rome basically needed to hold onto at all costs.
Your best bet would be to have a rebellion strike the region while Rome is heavily occupied by other powers and is suffering great defeats. And in that era, not a lot of people can do that. Maybe a much, much more successful Arminius (i.e., he beats Germanicus in 15/16 AD) could tie down enough soldiers, along with some better and more stable leadership in Parthia, and if you make Tacfarinas's rebellion more successful (and possibly even give him some German/Parthian help), you could have the Romans driven out of that part of Africa, and eventually have things coalesce into a Punic-speaking state centered around Carthage. How much of Carthaginian tradition would survive would interesting.
Above scenario would probably count as a Rome-screw.