Why the campaign makes Italy an economic objective

Carthage begins from a precarious scenario position. It holds Rome and Sicily, faces pressure in North Africa, and lacks enough income for its commitments. The proposed remedy is to seize more of Italy and occupy the central zone through which the game routes east-west commerce. The visible sea lanes show why location matters: coastal control and maritime connections generate the revenue needed to sustain armies. The game simplifies the ancient economy, but clearly links territorial strategy, sea routes, and fiscal survival.