When talking about Ancient civilizations, the prosperity of the Roman Empire, Macedonian expansionism and ancient Greek culture. However, there is one name frequently mentioned in historical records, especially linked to economic activities and conquests – the city of Carthage.
Located in the current territory of Tunisia, in North Africa, Carthage played an important role in Antiquity. Privileged by its position on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the city gained prosperity in commercial activities in addition to having a respectable military background.
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Below, learn more about Cartago, your main characteristics, outstanding leaders and how it came to an end.
Carthage was located in North Africa, in the region where Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, is now located. A strong power of antiquity, it even disputed with Rome the control of the Mediterranean Sea, especially the island of Sicily.
Legend has it that Carthage was founded by Queen Dido, also known as Elisa. However, historians realize that the city had its creation established by Phoenicians from the city of Tire, back in the 9th century BC. W. However, the figure of Dido still appears as the princess who ran away from her brother, Pigmalión.
According to reports, Dido would have bought a piece of land in the region where, later, Carthage would be built. Between the 5th and 3rd centuries BC. C., the Carthaginians were involved in disputes against Greece and Sicily. The control of the Sicilian island, including, was one of the main factors that led to the famous Punic Wars.
Carthage was endowed with a considerable military force, which contributed to its territorial conquests in regions of Africa, Sardinia, Sicily and parts of Spain. With this, the Carthaginians managed to build a small empire in the Mediterranean Sea. The Sicilian island was even a strategic maritime point in antiquity.
The island was conquered by the Carthaginians after wars waged against the Greeks between V and III a. W. However, they were expelled by the Romans after their defeat in First Punic War, set of conflicts that occurred between 264 and 241 a. W. The government was exercised by a senate governed by the assembly of merchants.
Despite the destruction by the Romans, historians have formulated an idea of how the city was formed. It is known that Carthage was surrounded by three great walls that gave it protection, guarding armies, cavalry, troops and observation points. In addition to them, two others circled the city covering the entire peninsula.
The territory was divided into three main regions, being them:
There was also a cemetery that separated the brysa from the other regions, as well as smaller ones between the walls. It is assumed that the Carthaginian constructions were made by materials with strong Egyptian and Greek influences. An interesting feature is the absence of windows, with the exception of those opening onto external courtyards.
Trade was the main economic activity developed by the Carthaginians and, for it, the city sent navigators to the North Atlantic. The Carthaginians inherited the art of dyeing from the Phoenicians, making their fabrics appreciated and transformed into signs of wealth and refinement.
The cost of fabrics was high because of their complicated manufacturing process – wool or linen was dyed with pigment from a mollusk called murex, found in shallow Mediterranean waters. In addition to fabrics, food products, metals (silver, tin, iron and gold) and slaves were also sold. Alongside trade, the Carthaginians developed an important agricultural structure.
The Carthaginians worshiped Ba'al Hammon, a Phoenician god identified as Cronus by the Greeks and Saturn by the Romans. Its possible origin is in Amon, the symbol of creation according to the Egyptians. In the name of Hammon, supposed human sacrifices were made in the form of offerings, the “Moloc”.
However, remains found in archaeological sites were attributed to children who died of natural causes and abortions. Also identified were the remains of animals that, it is believed, replaced children in sacrifices made to the god Hammon.
Hannibal was an important Carthaginian general who lived between 248 and 183 BC. W. Among his most outstanding feats was the command of an army composed of 50 elephants that, during the Second Punic War (218 to 201 a. C.), crossed Spain to reach Italy. The goal was to conquer Rome, but it was unsuccessful.
The city of Carthage was dominated and destroyed by the Romans in the Third Punic War, conflicts that lasted from 149 to 146 BC. W. However, in the 1st century BC. C., the city was refounded by Caesar and Augustus, but as one of the Roman colonies. Again, it rose to the point of appearing as the fourth largest city in the Empire, reaching half a million inhabitants.
The Punic Wars were a set of battles waged against Rome by the Carthaginians over the dispute over the Mediterranean Sea. The “trigger” for the explosion of conflicts was the control of Sicily, an island considered the main maritime point of antiquity. In total, there were three conflicts, as described below:
By this time, Carthage had dominated much of the Mediterranean Sea, including Sicily. Rome's reaction was immediate and, in the first battles, the Roman Empire lost. However, upon unraveling the Carthaginian strategies, he reassembled his squadron and regained control of the region.
The defeat in the First War led to the imposition of heavy tributes and the hatred nurtured by the Carthaginians against the Romans. During this period, the figure of Hannibal appears, a leader who believed in his ability to defeat the Romans with his army of elephants. Even with a successful initial charge, the general's strategy failed.
After wreaking havoc that almost brought down the Roman Empire, Hannibal suffered from the Italian counterattack, both with a siege of his army and a direct assault on Carthage. The Carthaginian leader was forced to return to his country and ask for peace from the Romans, at the time, commanded by Cyprion the African.
One more defeat, another extortion applied by the Romans to Carthage in the form of a debt that, according to creditors, would take 50 years to be paid off. The amount, however, was paid in a decade thanks to the commercial skill of the Carthaginians. The envy of the Roman senators was paramount in the final blow.
The Roman Empire imposed highly extortionate conditions on the Carthaginians in order to weaken them for a new war. It worked out. The Third Punic War came to an end within three years with the easy defeat of Carthage by the Romans. Furthermore, the soil was literally salted to make it infertile.
the archaeological site of Cartago was listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco for having ruins of the city
the former Punic capital is currently one of the neighborhoods of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, as well as an important tourist spot
