What was the significance of the conquest of territories in the Western Mediterranean for the Roman Republic?

We are talking about the III century BC, about two wars of the Roman Republic with another Mediterranean state – Carthage. It was located on the territory of modern Tunisia, but in its sphere of influence were Sicily and part of modern Spain.

Carthage was a large trading state, by 200 AD the Romans managed to crush it as a competitor (the battle of the replacement in 202) and take control of not only new territories (the Balearic Islands), but also receive an indemnity from Carthage of 10,000 silver talents. Carthage could not fight with anyone without the permission of Rome and its fleet was reduced to 10 ships.

By the end of the 3rd century BC, Rome had become the most powerful state in the Mediterranean.