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As a young man, the future Consul fought many battles against the armies of Hannibal. He had personally witnessed how close Rome had come to defeat. When he visited Carthage on a diplomatic mission in 153/154 BC, he was shocked by how quickly the city regained its strength and wealth. He came to believe that Carthage would once again pose a challenge to Rome and its Empire. Cato the Elder believed that Rome should attack before the great Punic city became too strong. In the Senate, he constantly demanded a war against the Punic city-state <ref> Miles, p 378</ref>. He would end every speech he made with the line “Carthage must be destroyed.” Soon, he persuaded the Senate and the Consuls to become more aggressive with the old enemy. The Romans demanded more concessions from the Carthaginians, such as moving their city inland.
This provoked a war and led to the destruction of Rome’s greatest enemy. Cato the Elder did not live to see the destruction of his hated enemy. He died in 149, before the annihilation of the Punic city. Without the campaign of Cato, it is possible that Carthage could have endured and even once again challenged Rome. The disappearance of Carthage was to have immense consequences for Rome. For example, it The destruction of Carthage ultimately led it allowed Rome to become a North Africa power, and the rich farmland of their old enemy became the granary of Rome. This change was all in part due to the campaign of Cato and his implacable hatred of the Carthaginians .<ref> Cicero, On Old Age On Friendship On Divination (Cambridge, Loeb Classical Library No. 154, 1956), p 45</ref>
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