Reading about Cartago and its history there's something I don't quite understand... did they really control a bunch of territory inthe north of Africa, the mediterranean and Spain... or where those just like... vassal states?, or maybe it was more of a loose alliance...?
I ask because when I learned about the Mercenary War the fact that all those cities controlled by Cartago rebelled seems impossible... unless they were not controlled by Cartago. Maybe the rulers were not Carthaginean but instead local rules who used to be loyal to Cartago.
Also, when I learned about all the things Amilcar Barca did in Spain... it seems like he was setting up his own independent kingdom.
The more I learn about Cartago the more it seems they did not hold any territory outside their city with any strong authority, but rather realied in the governments in those places to be loyal to them.
Of course I could be very wrong and that's why I'm asking.
Carthage inherited the system from the Phoenicians of Tyre, that once ruled over Carthage the same way. All the cities under it's influence had the autonomy to rule themselves at a local level in exchange for regular tribute of resources or manpower, alignment of their policial agenda and ocassional join military operations. As long vassals payed tribute and recognised the same foes and friends they could have their own goverments, laws, etc...
While Tyre ruled by sheer economy power Carthage added a formidable navy and deployment of ground troops across the Mediterranean to protect and expand their influence. While the local rulers were not direcly tied to the decision makers in the goverment of Carthage it was often in their intrest to respect and consider Carthage agenda if anything so they dont suffer the economical consequences. Also, many of this colonies shared the same cultural and religious background from the Phoenicians and surrounded by strong powers they prefered to be vassals to familiar Carthage than others that could treathen they way of life. With the trade tax and the tributes the treasury was in good enough shape they could hire mercenaries in large numbers to fight wars they did not have the manpower to do otherwise and further dominate other cities.
By the time of the mercenary wars all this was changed. Carthage was under severe economic troubles and could not pay the mercenaries. The navy was no longer the dominant naval power after the 1st Punic War either. For the vassal city states it was a chance to gain autonomy, independence or even try get their city to follow Carthage as they had done to Tyre and rule the old Phoenician network. Many of them joined the war as they concluded that Carthage was on their way out with a weaken army, a weaken navy, a depleated treasury and surrounded by thousands of rogue mercenaries ready to burn the city to the ground. After the dificult victory in the war the Barca clan were warheroes so they got way with some things not that usual for Carthage, such as directly governorship of a sizable and rich overseas province. In a way the Barca were centralising the power mostly around themselves and not exaclty over Carthage.
It is hard to say how centralised Carthage was is since there is not a clear meter, but I hope this helps.