The western Mediterranean, to the west of Sicily, which lies at the eastern edge of the wester basin of the Mediterranean.
Carthage had several advantages at the beginning of its first war with Rome. Very importantly Carthage had a developed navy. This enabled their military to embark to what it deemed strategic places in the Mediterranean Sea. Another advantage Carthage had was control of strategic islands in the Mediterranean, namely Sardinia and Corsica. Carthage had Greek allies in Sicily, the south of the Italian peninsula, and as faraway as Corinth. Carthage had a long standing position in Western Spain as well. For the most part she was in control of shipping and land bases in the western Mediterranean Sea.
Carthage had to give up Spain, Sicily and parts of North Africa among other Mediterranean holdings.Carthage had to give up Spain, Sicily and parts of North Africa among other Mediterranean holdings.Carthage had to give up Spain, Sicily and parts of North Africa among other Mediterranean holdings.Carthage had to give up Spain, Sicily and parts of North Africa among other Mediterranean holdings.Carthage had to give up Spain, Sicily and parts of North Africa among other Mediterranean holdings.Carthage had to give up Spain, Sicily and parts of North Africa among other Mediterranean holdings.Carthage had to give up Spain, Sicily and parts of North Africa among other Mediterranean holdings.Carthage had to give up Spain, Sicily and parts of North Africa among other Mediterranean holdings.Carthage had to give up Spain, Sicily and parts of North Africa among other Mediterranean holdings.
Carthage was in modern day Tunisia. She had territories in western Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and the Balearic Islands. Carthage also had colonies (settlements) in North Africa, from western Libya to northern Morocco, and in southern Spain. The Carthaginian Empire was primarily a trading empire which was centred on the tin and silver mines of southern Spain. Carthage sold the tin and silver to the Greeks and the Phoenicians (who lived in present day Lebanon) in the eastern Mediterranean and imported quality manufactures from this area. She also sold locally made lowed quality manufactures in the western Mediterranean; to her colonies, other Phoenician colonies and the local peoples. Carthage was a Phoenician city founded by political refugees from Tyre, the main Phoenician city.
Rome and Carthage were two great powers and their historic struggles are a very important part of ancient history. Carthage came very close to defeating Rome. They waged massive battles against each other for supremacy of the region. Due to its unfortunate end, we will never know how the country, second only to Rome, would have advanced over the centuries.
Originally Carthage and Rome were allies, especially against the invasion of Pyrrhus of Epirus when he tried to defeat Rome and take over Sicily. This alliance was based on Rome's land power and Carthage's sea power which complemented each other.The turning point came when Carthage tried to extend its influence in Sicily and Rome decided to resist this. This led to the First Punic War, which Rome won by building a fleet to match Carthage's.Rome's spreading influence led to other states appealing to Rome when they wanted to shake off Carthaginian influence in their area. This led to the Second Punic War where again Rome won.Rome decided to neutralise Carthage by imposing a crippling 50-year indemnity payment on it. Great traders as they were, Carthage paid it off in 10 years, which left Rome itching to get rid of this competitor to their dominance of the Western Mediterranean. They used proxies in the kingdoms neighbouring Carthage in north Africa, and when it defended itself, Rome used this as an excuse for the Third Punic War. After winning, they came to a final solution - leveling the city, selling the people into slavery, and establishing a military colony of veterans on the site.
Carthage had several advantages at the beginning of its first war with Rome. Very importantly Carthage had a developed navy. This enabled their military to embark to what it deemed strategic places in the Mediterranean Sea. Another advantage Carthage had was control of strategic islands in the Mediterranean, namely Sardinia and Corsica. Carthage had Greek allies in Sicily, the south of the Italian peninsula, and as faraway as Corinth. Carthage had a long standing position in Western Spain as well. For the most part she was in control of shipping and land bases in the western Mediterranean Sea.
Many historians believe that the people of Carthage originated in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. They were a Semitic people who were commercial traders and established ports and towns along the Mediterranean Sea. They were from Phoenicia
It took an increasingly large part in Phoenician trade in the western Mediterranean.
Carthage was a city-state that many people believe was the result of the seaman ship of the ancient Phoenicians. They were a trading and commerce people in the Eastern Mediterranean. Their explorations of the eastern part of the that sea had ample supplies and chances to gain wealth by trade, diplomacy and war if needed. Carthage was in a central part of the Mediterranean and gave them access to the wealth of Sicily and eastern Spain. With their wealth they were able to supplement their own military strength by hiring armies of mercenaries. Alliances with Greek colonies in the Mediterranean helped their power & wealth.
Carthage became the leading colony (settlement) among a series of Carthaginian colonies in northwest Africa and southern Spain. He power was based on wealth and naval and military strength. Carthage took the lion share of Phoenician trade in the western basin of the mediterranean. This involved buying goods from the locals in Africa and Spain, especially tin, which was highly valuable because it was needed to make bronze (an alloy of copper and tin), selling them to the Greeks and Phoenicians in the eastern mediterranean. She bought quality manufactures from them. These were sold in Carthage and the other Phoenician settlements. Carthage made cheap manufactures which she sold to the natives of Africa and Spain in exchange for what they bought. Carthage was in Tunisia, which at the time was one of the most fertile lands in the Mediterranean.and she also sold agricultural goods. With the wealth accumulated Carthage built a powerful navy. Many Phoenician settlements became subordinate to her. The Phoenicians and Greeks had much better ships and sailors than anyone else. This enabled Carthage to dominate the western basin of the Mediterranean and develop and defend extensive trading networks in this area. With the wealth, Carthage also built up a mercenary army, with which she took over Sardinia, the western part of Sicily and the Balearic islands. When the Greeks migrated to Italy and eastern Sicily, they challenged Carthaginian supremacy. They also took over much of the trading networks of southern France. Carthage fought several wars with the Greek in Sicily and managed to retain her dominance of western Sicily and continue to be a great power until she was defeated by Rome.
For a while, yes. They traded around the Mediterranean Sea, and went further to the Canary Islands and Britain. Their navy provided the backbone for the war fleet of the Persian Empire. Their navy was eliminated when Alexander the Great invaded Asia, and began with capturing the eastern Mediterranean coastline, including Phoenicia, to eliminate the Persian sea threat to mainland Greece. The other part of their sea power was later lost in the wars between Carthage (which was Phoenician) and Rome.
Carthage had to give up Spain, Sicily and parts of North Africa among other Mediterranean holdings.Carthage had to give up Spain, Sicily and parts of North Africa among other Mediterranean holdings.Carthage had to give up Spain, Sicily and parts of North Africa among other Mediterranean holdings.Carthage had to give up Spain, Sicily and parts of North Africa among other Mediterranean holdings.Carthage had to give up Spain, Sicily and parts of North Africa among other Mediterranean holdings.Carthage had to give up Spain, Sicily and parts of North Africa among other Mediterranean holdings.Carthage had to give up Spain, Sicily and parts of North Africa among other Mediterranean holdings.Carthage had to give up Spain, Sicily and parts of North Africa among other Mediterranean holdings.Carthage had to give up Spain, Sicily and parts of North Africa among other Mediterranean holdings.
The result of the Three Punic Wars was that Rome gained control over the western basin of the Mediterranean. After the First Punic War Rome seized western Sicily and Sardinia for the Carthaginians. During the Second Punic War Rome took over the Carthaginian territories in Southern Spain. The Numidians of Algeria switched their alliance from Carthage to Rome. This, combined with alliances with the cities on the northern part of the Mediterranean coast of Spain and with the Greek cities of southern France gave Rome control of the western Mediterranean. In the Third Punic War Rome destroyed Carthage, sold 50,000 of its citizens as slaves and took over Carthage's home territories: Tunisia and western Libya.
No, the Persian Empire went as far west as Libya. Carthage was in today's Tunisia.
Carthage was in modern day Tunisia. She had territories in western Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and the Balearic Islands. Carthage also had colonies (settlements) in North Africa, from western Libya to northern Morocco, and in southern Spain. The Carthaginian Empire was primarily a trading empire which was centred on the tin and silver mines of southern Spain. Carthage sold the tin and silver to the Greeks and the Phoenicians (who lived in present day Lebanon) in the eastern Mediterranean and imported quality manufactures from this area. She also sold locally made lowed quality manufactures in the western Mediterranean; to her colonies, other Phoenician colonies and the local peoples. Carthage was a Phoenician city founded by political refugees from Tyre, the main Phoenician city.
Now Tunisia.
Rome and Carthage were two great powers and their historic struggles are a very important part of ancient history. Carthage came very close to defeating Rome. They waged massive battles against each other for supremacy of the region. Due to its unfortunate end, we will never know how the country, second only to Rome, would have advanced over the centuries.