The Carthaginians were the inhabitants of Carthage, an ancient city located in present-day Tunisia. Founded by Phoenician settlers from Tyre in the 9th century BCE, Carthage became a powerful maritime and commercial empire in the Mediterranean. Known for their conflicts with Rome, particularly the Punic Wars, the Carthaginians were skilled traders and navigators but ultimately fell to Rome in 146 BCE, leading to the city's destruction. Their culture and influence were significant in the ancient world, particularly in trade, military strategy, and the spread of the Phoenician alphabet.