Howarth wrote that "Carthage lost [their first war against the Romans] in much the same way that the Soviet Union lost the Cold War: it could not afford to compete." How was Carthage able to recover economically in order to continue fighting in the subsequent Punic Wars?

The economic recovery of Carthage after the first Punic Was is usually attributed to the Expansion into the Iberian Peninsula. Spain was rich in Natrual resources and had many silver mines to help pay for Mercenaries. The city of Cartagena or Carthago Nova, became a 2nd Capital for the Carthaginians, providing an excellent port, trade hub and defensible city. Spain also fixed Carthage's manpower issue, as they could recruit from the Spanish tribes as well as hire their regular Mercenaries.