Carthaginian
civilization
(800 BC to 146 BC)
During the beginning of the last millennium
BC, the Phoenicians began establishing
colonies around the Mediterranean to
compete with the Greeks for trade. The
most important Phoenician colony was
Carthage. It was founded around 800 BC
near modern Tunis in North Africa.
Although the home cities in Phoenicia
were repeatedly conquered and
subjugated, the colony of Carthage
prospered and expanded to become one
of the great powers of the Western
Mediterranean.
True to their Phoenician heritage, the Carthaginians became great seafarers, traders, and colonizers.
There is some evidence that they circumnavigated Africa and very questionable evidence that they
reached the Americas. They capitalized on the trade of Iberian silver and British tin. Carthaginian
settlements spread along the North African coast, into western Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Minorca, and
much of Spain (modern Cartagena in Spain was called Carthago Nova, or New Carthage) and the
Portuguese Atlantic coast (with several trade posts and support harbors). During the fifth and fourth
centuries BC they fought with the Greeks for trade and colonies, especially in Sicily. In the third
century, they began a titanic clash with the rising power of Rome.
The Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage were fought to decide which
power would dominate the Western Mediterranean. The first war (264–
241 BC) was fought over Sicily. The Romans were not a naval
power but built fleets from scratch based on the plans of a
captured ship. Their first two fleets defeated Carthaginian
fleets but were in turn lost to storms. Their third fleet
completed the defeat of the Carthaginians at sea. The
Carthaginians were forced out of Sicily, and lost Corsica and
Sardinia as well.
The Second Punic War (218–201 BC) was a temporary improvement
of Carthaginian fortunes and a near victory. The war was triggered by the
great general Hannibal who marched out of modern Spain, across modern
France, and into modern Italy across the Alps with a large army, including war elephants.
In a brilliant campaign of 16 years, Hannibal defeated the Romans at every turn, although he lacked the
critical strength to take Rome itself and end the war. Unable to defeat Hannibal’s army in Italy, the
Romans attacked the Carthaginians first in Spain and then in North Africa. Hannibal was called out of
Italy to defend the homeland. At the decisive battle at Zama, the Romans destroyed the Carthaginian
army.
Carthage was forced to give up its overseas possessions, pay a large indemnity, reduce its fleet, and
become subservient to Rome. By 150 BC the city had recovered and was seen again as a threat.
When the Carthaginians attacked Numidia, a Roman ally, the Romans responded by attacking Carthage
once more. This time the city was destroyed utterly and its power broken forever. A symbolic furrow
was plowed through the city and sown with salt to show that the city would not be allowed to revive.
10 Age of Empires Expansion
