<P> Eventually, Rome annexed Corsica and Sardinia by revisiting the terms of the treaty that ended the first Punic War . As Carthage was under siege and engaged in a difficult civil war, they grudgingly accepted the loss of these islands and the subsequent Roman conditions for ongoing peace, which also increased the war indemnity levied against Carthage after the first Punic War . This eventually plunged relations between the two powers to a new low point . </P> <P> After Carthage emerged victorious from the Mercenary War there were two opposing factions: the reformist party was led by Hamilcar Barca while the other, more conservative, faction was represented by Hanno the Great and the old Carthaginian aristocracy . Hamilcar had led the initial Carthaginian peace negotiations and was blamed for the clause that allowed the Roman popular assembly to increase the war indemnity and annex Corsica and Sardinia, but his superlative generalship was instrumental in enabling Carthage to ultimately quell the mercenary uprising, ironically fought against many of the same mercenary troops he had trained . Hamilcar ultimately left Carthage for the Iberian peninsula where he captured rich silver mines and subdued many tribes who fortified his army with levies of native troops . </P> <P> Hanno had lost many elephants and soldiers when he became complacent after a victory in the Mercenary War . Further, when he and Hamilcar were supreme commanders of Carthage's field armies, the soldiers had supported Hamilcar when his and Hamilcar's personalities clashed . On the other hand, he was responsible for the greatest territorial expansion of Carthage's hinterland during his rule as strategus and wanted to continue such expansion . However, the Numidian king of the relevant area was now a son - in - law of Hamilcar and had supported Carthage during a crucial moment in the Mercenary War . While Hamilcar was able to obtain the resources for his aim, the Numidians in the Atlas Mountains were not conquered, like Hanno suggested, but became vassals of Carthage . </P> <P> The Iberian conquest was begun by Hamilcar Barca and his other son - in - law, Hasdrubal the Fair, who ruled relatively independently of Carthage and signed the Ebro Treaty with Rome . Hamilcar died in battle in 228 BC . Around this time, Hasdrubal became Carthaginian commander in Iberia (229 BC). He maintained this post for some eight years until 221 BC . Soon the Romans became aware of a burgeoning alliance between Carthage and the Celts of the Po river valley in northern Italy . The latter were amassing forces to invade Italy, presumably with Carthaginian backing . Thus, the Romans preemptively invaded the Po region in 225 BC . By 220 BC, the Romans had annexed the area as Gallia Cisalpina . Hasdrubal was assassinated around the same time (221 BC), bringing Hannibal to the fore . It seems that, having apparently dealt with the threat of a Gallo - Carthaginian invasion of Italy (and perhaps with the original Carthaginian commander killed), the Romans lulled themselves into a false sense of security . Thus, Hannibal took the Romans by surprise a mere two years later (218 BC) by merely reviving and adapting the original Gallo - Carthaginian invasion plan of his brother - in - law Hasdrubal . </P>

What problems did roman conquests especially after the punic wars create for the roman republic