WI: Carthage unburdened by war

It's noteworthy that the economy of Carthage rebounded fairly well after it's defeat in the second Punic war. Once Rome had wrested control of the Mediterranean from Carthage, the city could focus on mercantile matters rather than imperialistic matters. This, of course annoyed Rome to no end.

Let us suppose a situation in which this happy state of affairs for Carthage continues. Perhaps they are allowed to remain as a strictly Mercantile city state by Rome. Perhaps they are more peacefully subdued by Rome or anither expansionist power such as Alexander's empire. In my current timeline, I have Carthage peacefully taken under Rome's wing and treated to the same liberty's as your typical Italian city.

Regardless of what happened specifically, what might we see from this Carthage? Would they continue to simply ply the trade routes of the Western Mediterranean? Might they attempt to found colonies wherever possible? Might they venture once more out onto the Atlantic coast?
 
They have no bases from which to adventure to the Atlantic. The Numidian and Mauretanian coastline is hostile, so I don't see how they do that. Neither is Rome going to allow them to, no matter how friendly they become. Basically, Carthage would just continue doing what it had been doing since the 2nd Punic War-supplying Rome's armies and people with grain and flourish from being a major trading city at a crucial juncture in the Mediterranean.
 
It's noteworthy that the economy of Carthage rebounded fairly well after it's defeat in the second Punic war. Once Rome had wrested control of the Mediterranean from Carthage, the city could focus on mercantile matters rather than imperialistic matters. This, of course annoyed Rome to no end.

Let us suppose a situation in which this happy state of affairs for Carthage continues. Perhaps they are allowed to remain as a strictly Mercantile city state by Rome. Perhaps they are more peacefully subdued by Rome or anither expansionist power such as Alexander's empire. In my current timeline, I have Carthage peacefully taken under Rome's wing and treated to the same liberty's as your typical Italian city.

Regardless of what happened specifically, what might we see from this Carthage? Would they continue to simply ply the trade routes of the Western Mediterranean? Might they attempt to found colonies wherever possible? Might they venture once more out onto the Atlantic coast?

I've read claimed that Rome mounted the Third Punic war not because Carthage annoyed them (except than by just existing) but because Numidia did. They wanted to step in in order to prevent the Numidians to take over; in this interpretation, Massinissa or his successor would have then established the Numidian capital in Carthage itself and created a strong Numido-Punic state controlling a major trade hub. Not sure of how much of a basis for this idea actually exists in the sources.
 
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