Carthage
Carthage is an ancient city in the Mediterranean that was under Roman Rule and Christianity was spreading past; it had a vast history and many wars with Rome. It is located on the north shore of Africa at the tip of a peninsula near the city that is now known as Tunis, Tunisia. Phoenician seamen as a trade and shipping outpost founded Carthage. Its harbor location in the Mediterranean Sea gave it advantages for both defense and trade. The city, whose name means "new city," thrived on commerce and its people engaged in trade throughout the region. At the peak of its power around mid- 200 B.C., the city controlled a large commercial empire along the Mediterranean coast. Eventually, the city's conflict with Rome over control of the Mediterranean Sea led to its destruction and it was subsequently taken over by the Roman Empire. (Moulton 113) There are about 1,200 inscriptions that have been found in Northern Africa employing the Libyan language. The writing was consonantal and it reflected the dialects of the period. Many ancient classical authors, including Homer, provided information relative to the origin of the Phoenician people who founded Carthage. The writings talk of the Phoenicians' maritime adventures, their
As its power spread, Carthage ran into conflict with Greeks, who had also extensive trading interests in the Mediterranean. In about 535 B.C., the Carthaginians allied themselves with the Etruscans of Italy, to defeat the Island of Corsica. Shortly after, the Carthaginians extended their control into Sardinia and Spain. By 265 B.C. Carthage had major military power in the western Mediterranean Sea, ruling over all the islands and trading settlements of that region. (Moulton 114) By the 500s B.C., the city had an oligarchy, which means it was ruled by only a few people. It consisted of two ruling officials who were elected annually, a powerful senate whose members held office for life, and a group of elected judges who monitored the actions of other officials. The citizens of Carthage had only very little power. Carthage had a very large army of mercenaries, who help to defend the city and the territories around it. (Moulton 113-114) Carthage was founded in 814 B.C. by the Phoenicians from the city of Tyre in the Eastern Mediterranean. (Moulton 113) Dido was believed to be the legendary founder and queen of Carthage. The city was known to its Punic or Phoenician inhabitants as the "new city," probably to distinguish it from Utica, which was the "old city." (Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2001) Carthage remained a Phoenician colony until the 600s B.C. when it gained its independence. When it gained its independence, Carthage brought Phoenician settlements in North Africa under its control and conquered the native peoples of the region. Carthage was ruled by a colonial gov
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