Carthaginian Empire Facts & Worksheets

• The Carthaginian society was characterised by both hierarchy and cosmopolitanism. The noble Punic families who governed commerce and politics occupied the highest echelon. Below them were mariners, merchants, agriculturists and craftsmen. The city welcomed and employed individuals from various nations, thereby enhancing its diversity. Women in Carthage possessed the right to own land and operate companies, distinguishing them from numerous contemporary societies. 
• Religion constituted a significant aspect of daily existence. The Carthaginians venerated deities that their Phoenician ancestors had revered. Baal Hammon, the deity of storms and fertility, and Tanit, the maternal goddess of life and protection, were the preeminent among these deities. 
• The inhabitants of Carthage constructed temples, presented offerings and conducted elaborate festivities. 
• Some individuals believed that their faith necessitated the sacrifice of children, particularly during challenging times. Tophets are consecrated areas containing urns with the cremated remains of infants and animals. These exemplify such routines. Roman and Greek sources, frequently biased, condemned this practice. 
• Agriculture, commerce and industry were all vital to Carthage’s economy. The landscape surrounding the city was arable and cultivated crops such as wheat, olives and grapes. The Carthaginians were renowned for their agricultural texts and for employing crop rotation and irrigation techniques. Their artisans produced exquisite textiles, glassware and metalwork that were distributed around the Mediterranean. Carthaginian vessels were paramount on trade routes, transporting goods from Africa, Iberia and the Near East.
• The city’s port houses Cothon, an intricate artificial harbour with distinct sections for military and commercial vessels. The circular design of this technical marvel encompassed docking areas, maintenance facilities and storage warehouses.

Conflicts, Challenges and Legacy of the Carthaginian Empire

• As Carthage expanded, it had conflicts with the Greeks, particularly in Sicily. There were Greek and Phoenician colonies on the island, and both wanted to be in command. From the sixth to the third centuries BCE, Carthage and Greek city-states such as Syracuse engaged in a series of battles known as the Sicilian conflicts.
• Carthage rebuilt and remained a major power despite early military failures, most notably the Battle of Himera in 480 BCE, when its soldiers were defeated by a Greek coalition led by Gelon of Syracuse and Theron of Akragas. This loss temporarily halted their progress in Sicily and resulted in the reputed death of the campaign’s commander, Hamilcar. Nevertheless, they recovered quickly. Its fleets continued to cruise the Mediterranean, while its commanders began operations in Sicily. 
• Repeated attempts to take Syracuse, the island’s strongest Greek city, were mostly unsuccessful due in part to plague outbreaks and fierce Greek opposition. Despite these setbacks, Carthage retained its power in western Sicily and remained a significant danger to Greek interests in the region.
• Rome’s rise to prominence was the most significant conflict in Carthage’s history. The Punic Wars, fought between 264 and 146 BCE, were three major battles that determined supremacy over the western Mediterranean.

The First Punic War (264–241 BCE) - Control over Sicily

• • This war began over control of Sicily. It was mainly a naval conflict. Rome, lacking a strong navy initially, rapidly built one and eventually defeated Carthage. The empire lost Sicily and had to pay a heavy tribute. A rebellion by unpaid mercenaries in Africa followed, nearly collapsing the state but was crushed.

Second Punic War (218–201 BCE)

• • Hannibal Barca, a Carthaginian leader, led his army, which included war elephants, over the Alps into Italy during the Second Punic War. He won battles in Cannae, Lake Trasimene and Trebia. He was eventually summoned back to Africa, where Roman general Scipio Africanus defeated him in the Battle of Zama. Carthage lost its empire and became a client state.

Third Punic War (149–146 BCE)

• • Rome, fearful of a Carthaginian resurgence and encouraged by politicians such as Cato the Elder, who ended every speech with ‘Carthago delenda est’ (‘Carthage must be destroyed’), struck again. Carthage was destroyed during a lengthy and brutal siege. Rome conquered the city, murdered or enslaved its inhabitants, and burned it down.
• Carthage’s destruction had far-reaching consequences. It was an important commercial and maritime hub, spreading Phoenician culture and new ideas throughout the western Mediterranean. They were adept sailors and shipbuilders who pioneered modern harbours and trading systems. The Cothon was cited as an example of exemplary engineering.
• The Phoenician script, based on the alphabet, expanded throughout Carthage and eventually influenced the Latin and Greek alphabets. It also kept farming techniques alive. Roman authors wrote about writers such as the Carthaginian farmer Mago and borrowed his ideas.
• Carthage played a significant role in Roman literature and mythology. In his epic poem The Aeneid, Virgil describes the connection between Dido and Aeneas, a hero from Troy. Dido curses Aeneas before he sets out to accomplish his destiny and create Rome, claiming that their people will eternally detest one another. A story serving as a metaphor for Rome and Carthage’s final conflict.
• The fall of Carthage further demonstrated Roman strength. Cato the Elder’s desire for Carthage’s destruction demonstrated that he was fearful of a foreign return and was confident that the Romans would prevail decisively. The words ‘Carthago Delenda’ served as a political rallying cry for Roman bloodshed. In an unusual twist, Rome later rebuilt Carthage. Julius Caesar, who later became Augustus, renamed the city Colonia Julia Carthago. It became one of the wealthiest cities in Roman Africa. It served as the birthplace of intellectuals such as Tertullian and Cyprian, as well as the hub of early Christianity.
• The lost city of Carthage is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site located near Tunis, Tunisia. Archaeological investigations have revealed temples, residences, harbours and tophetes, allowing us to understand more about Punic civilisation. The Tanit emblem remains a component of ancient Carthaginian religion. It can be found on tombstones and pottery.