mercenary life is recorded as a custom of iron age spain, particularly in the central area of the iberian peninsula. departing from the native tribe and applying to serve in others was a way for economically disadvantaged youth to escape poverty and find an opportunity to use their fighting skills. starting from 5th century bc, mercenary life would become a true social phenom in hispania, with great numbers of fighters from distant lands coming to join the armies of carthage, rome, sicily and even greece, as well as other spanish peoples.