History
Carthage (Qart-Hadasht, meaning 'New City') was a powerful ancient civilization based in North Africa. Founded by Phoenician colonists from Tyre in 814 BC, it grew into a vast maritime empire that dominated the Western Mediterranean for centuries until its destruction by Rome.
The Legend of Dido
According to legend, Carthage was founded by Dido (also known as Elissa), a princess who fled from Tyre after her brother Pygmalion murdered her husband Sychaeus out of greed for his gold. Upon arriving in North Africa, she asked the local Berber king for a piece of land only as large as an ox hide could cover. Cleverly, she cut the hide into extremely thin strips and laid them end-to-end to encircle a large hill. This hill became the Byrsa, the citadel of Carthage.
Government & Society
Carthage was an oligarchic republic. It was led by two annually elected magistrates called Shophets (Suffetes), similar to Roman consuls. A Council of Elders and the 'Hundred and Four' court held significant power, overseeing generals and officials. While it had a popular assembly, real power lay with the wealthy merchant aristocracy.
Major Wars
- Sicilian Wars (480โ265 BC): Long-running conflicts with Greek city-states like Syracuse for control of Sicily.
- Punic Wars (264โ146 BC): The titanic struggle against Rome. Carthage lost the First War (Sicily), nearly destroyed Rome in the Second War under Hannibal, and was utterly annihilated in the Third War.
- Mercenary War (240โ238 BC): A brutal rebellion of unpaid mercenaries after the First Punic War, which Carthage suppressed with difficulty.
Key Figures
- Hannibal Barca: One of history's greatest military strategists, famous for crossing the Alps with war elephants to attack Rome.
- Hamilcar Barca: Hannibal's father, who expanded Carthaginian power in Spain and instilled a hatred of Rome in his son.
- Dido (Elissa): The legendary queen and founder of Carthage who fled from Tyre.
Major Events
- 814 BC: Legendary foundation of Carthage by Queen Dido.
- 216 BC: Battle of Cannae, where Hannibal encircled and destroyed a massive Roman army.
- 146 BC: The Siege and destruction of Carthage by Scipio Aemilianus; the city was burned and its survivors enslaved.