This war was smaller than the previous Punic Wars, as the Carthage Empire was in decline and the war was nothing more than the weak resistance of the Phoenicians. This time, Rome intended to annex the Carthage Empire, and the focal point of the war was the encirclement of the city of Carthage. After seven days of resistance against the Romans, the Phoenicians surrendered and the entire population of the interior was killed or sold into slavery. Following the collapse of the Empire of Carthage, the Roman Republic became the most powerful force in the world.