Carthage facts for kids
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Carthage was an ancient city that acted like its own country, located in what is now Tunisia. It started as a settlement built by people from Phoenicia. When Carthage was at its strongest, it was the most powerful force in the Mediterranean Sea. It controlled parts of Spain, Sicily, North Africa, Sardinia, and the Balearic islands.
The Roman Republic destroyed Carthage during a series of big wars called the Punic Wars in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. Later, Rome built a new city in the same spot. This new Roman city became very important in the Roman province of Africa. Much later, a group called the Vandals took over the city and used it as a base to attack Rome.
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The Punic Wars
Carthage was a major rival to the Roman Republic for control of the Mediterranean Sea. Rome wanted to rule the entire western Mediterranean, and Carthage was a big challenge to that goal.
The First Punic War
In 264 BC, the Romans helped some rebels in Messina and sent an army to Sicily. This started the First Punic War. The Romans invaded the areas Carthage controlled in Sicily, and Carthage's generals struggled to stop them. Even at sea, where Carthage had been strong for a long time, the Romans learned quickly. They copied Carthage's warship designs, called biremes (ships with two rows of oars), and won several important naval battles.
Eventually, a general named Hamilcar Barca took charge of Carthage's defense. Hamilcar knew that fighting the powerful Roman army in open battle was a bad idea. So, he decided to use quick attacks and retreats, known as "hit-and-run" tactics, to wear down the Romans. This worked a little better against the slow, heavily armored Roman soldiers. However, the Romans eventually captured Lilybaeum, which was Carthage's main stronghold in Sicily. This loss ended Carthage's power in Sicily and brought the First Punic War to a close.
The Second Punic War
In the Second Punic War, Hannibal Barca led the Carthaginian army. In 218 BC, he marched his army through Spain, southern Gaul (modern-day France), and even over the snowy Alps mountains into Italy. There, he fought the Roman Republic in three major battles: the battle of the River Trebia, the battle of lake Trasmine, and the battle of Cannae. Hannibal won amazing victories in each of these battles, defeating the Romans.
However, Hannibal could not capture the city of Rome itself. Eventually, he had to retreat back to Carthage. There, he was defeated by the Roman general Scipio Africanis in the battle of Zama.
The Third Punic War
The Romans finally destroyed Carthage in 146 BC, during the Third Punic War. About 50,000 Carthaginians who survived were taken as captives.
Images for kids
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Modern reconstruction of Punic Carthage. The circular harbor at the front is the Cothon, the military port of Carthage, where all of Carthage's warships (Biremes) were anchored
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The layout of the Punic city-state Carthage, before its fall in 146 B.C.
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Punic ruins in Byrsa
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Archaeological Site of Carthage
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Archaeological Site of Carthage
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View of two columns at Carthage
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Ruins of Carthage
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Roman Carthage City Center
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Layout of Roman Carthage
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The Vandal Kingdom in 500, centered on Carthage
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Historical map of the Tunis area (1903), showing St. Louis of Carthage between Sidi Bou Said and Le Kram.
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The first published sketch of artefacts from Carthage – mostly Carthaginian tombstones. This was published in Jean Emile Humbert's Notice sur quatre cippes sépulcraux et deux fragments, découverts en 1817, sur le sol de l'ancienne Carthage.
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Map of the Mediterranean in 218 BC
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Trade routes of Phoenicia (Byblos, Sidon, Tyre) & Carthage
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Idealized depiction of Carthage from the 1493 Nuremberg Chronicle.
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Juba II, reigned 25 BC – AD 23
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See also
In Spanish: Cartago para niños
