Carthage was trying to conquer Rome. They had no choice but to keep fighting.
...But they didn't raise a full army again until the next generation of soldiers was raised and Carthage had returned to North Africa.
...But they didn't raise a full army again until the next generation of soldiers was raised and Carthage had returned to North Africa.
Not really. They could have reached a negotiated settlement. Both the first and second Punic wars ended in a negotiated settlement (of course very much in favor of Rome). Carthage would likely have been ok with Rome agreeing that all of Spain would be in Carthage’s sphere of influence. Worst case, they would return Sicily which they gained in the first Punic war.
Rome’s decision to keep on fighting was not one necessitated by survival or maintaining independence.
bronze age wars weren't a lesson in diplomacy
That was the thing about the Romans which many found surprising back then. After they were defeated in battle and when everyone expected them to attempt to negotiate a peace settlement to minimize their losses, they just kept on fighting.