The ancient city-state of Carthage, on the coast of northern Africa not far from modern-day Tunis in Tunisia, was an important player in the development of the Mediterranean. In the ninth century BCE, Phoenician settlers established Carthage, which would eventually become a maritime and trade power on par with Rome. Its central location in the Mediterranean allowed it to become a center of commerce and culture.

Among the many wars Carthage fought was the Punic Wars against Rome. The fall of Carthage in 146 BCE was the culmination of three Punic Wars that raged from 264 to 146 BCE and were motivated by territorial and economic struggle. The city and its inhabitants were destroyed, and the surrounding land was turned into a Roman province.

The impact of Carthage was not limited to its military campaigns. Hannibal and his legendary general, who notably led an elephant army through the Alps during the Second Punic War, both called this city home. Its contributions to the spread of Phoenician civilization can be seen in the city’s art, architecture, and literary output.

Carthage’s ruins have been excavated over the years, providing a glimpse into the city’s history and culture. Its legacy lives on as a reminder of the interplay of civilizations and the emergence and fall of Mediterranean empires in antiquity.