> Carthage was much more powerful than Rome was
No it wasn't. The roman republic won the 1st punic war. The carthaginian empire was older for sure but not much more powerful.
> and Rome really had no business thinking it could have won either of those wars.
Rome was the rising and expanding power. Carthage was an old has-been. Rome had every right to think it would prevail. Hence why Rome started the first punic wars.
> and only survived by outright refusing to give up, and then somehow pulling it out of the bag at a key moment.
It's like you gleaned your information from sensationalizing documentaries or a kid's book.
> Rome could have very easily failed and become a Carthaginian vassal state.
The odds of carthage invading and holding rome is 0.
> There would have been no Roman Empire
So western europe could have skipped the dark ages and gotten access to the ancient greek culture ( which is the foundation of european civilization ) sooner?
> and the history of Europe would have been a continent dominated by a North African empire.
Assuming that carthage could have held rome or made any progress against the huns, germanic or slavic tribes up north. If anything, the downfall of rome would have precipitated the rise of northern europe which dominates europe today.
No it wasn't. The roman republic won the 1st punic war. The carthaginian empire was older for sure but not much more powerful.
> and Rome really had no business thinking it could have won either of those wars.
Rome was the rising and expanding power. Carthage was an old has-been. Rome had every right to think it would prevail. Hence why Rome started the first punic wars.
> and only survived by outright refusing to give up, and then somehow pulling it out of the bag at a key moment.
It's like you gleaned your information from sensationalizing documentaries or a kid's book.
> Rome could have very easily failed and become a Carthaginian vassal state.
The odds of carthage invading and holding rome is 0.
> There would have been no Roman Empire
So western europe could have skipped the dark ages and gotten access to the ancient greek culture ( which is the foundation of european civilization ) sooner?
> and the history of Europe would have been a continent dominated by a North African empire.
Assuming that carthage could have held rome or made any progress against the huns, germanic or slavic tribes up north. If anything, the downfall of rome would have precipitated the rise of northern europe which dominates europe today.