Carthage

Carthage was an ancient Phoenician city-state located on the northeastern coast of present-day Tunisia, on the Gulf of Tunis. Founded by Phoenician colonists from Tyre in the 9th or 8th century BCE, it grew into a major Mediterranean power through trade, seafaring, and a network of dependent settlements across North Africa and western Sicily. Its wealth rested on maritime commerce, access to Tyrian trade networks, and a controlled trade in resources such as metals, grain, and textiles. The city developed a distinct political system with suffetes (chief magistrates) and a ruling commercial aristocracy, while religious life centered on Baal Hammon and the goddess Tanit.

Carthage and Rome rose as rival powers in the western Mediterranean, setting the stage for the Punic Wars beginning in 264 BCE. Carthage fought Rome across three major conflicts; Hannibal Barca achieved famous victories in the Second Punic War (218–201 BCE), including the crossing of the Alps, but Carthage could not overcome Rome’s eventual superior power. The Third Punic War (149–146 BCE) ended with the destruction of Carthage when Rome razed the city and sold its population into slavery.

The site was later rebuilt as a Roman city and became the provincial capital of Africa Proconsularis. In the modern era, the ruins lie near Tunis and include Phoenician, Punic, and Roman remains, such as the Byrsa hill, the tophet, and the baths. Carthage is recognized today as a major archaeological site and a UNESCO World Heritage property.