![[Prev Page]](/westciv/images/previous.gif)
![[Contents]](/westciv/images/toc.gif)
![[Next Page]](/westciv/images/next.gif)
The Punic Wars
Carthage
Carthage was a city-state on the Greek model that had been founded by
Phoenicians
from Tyre in the 8th century. It was the strongest city in the Western Mediterranean by
the 3rd century and its wealth rested on trade. Carthaginian merchants went from one end
of the Mediterranean to the other, the city's fleets were huge, and its army was one of
the best in the ancient world.
It was Carthage that pried loose the Greek hold on the western ports, and Carthaginian merchants traded as far north as England (for Cornish tin) and down the West African coast (for gold and ivory).
Like Rome, Carthage learned how to make use of the manpower of its conquered peoples, incorporating them into the Carthaginian army as auxiliaries. Unlike Rome, but like the Greeks, the Carthaginians also made extensive use of mercenaries.
By the early 200s, Carthage had expanded not only across North Africa but had control of the Belearic Islands, Sardinia, Corsica, and much of Sicily. She took the goods from these regions, and her own fertile hinterland, and shipped them to eastern ports.
Once Rome had conquered most of Italy, it was only a matter of time before these two ambitious and powerful empires came face to face with one another. But both sides drifted unintentionally into hostilities, with drastic consequences for both.