Carthage

In 816 BCE Queen Dido with the Phoenician people, faced King Hazael's forces. The conflict escalated into the Syria's first civil war, lasting a year. Queen Dido fled from Syria with three ships in 815 BCE.

Carthage symbol

## Carthage

### Precced by

* Golden Kingdom War
* First Syrian Civil War

# Queen Dido

Many myths were told about her journey, however in 814 BCE, Queen Dido lands in Carthage and found's it as her City Kingdom with Byrsa as capital.

Dido was a skilled leader and organizer. Under her guidance, Carthage grew into Byrsa city, becoming a major center for trade.

Dido was in love with Aeneas, a Athenian warrior, however Aeneas was tasked to go on Syria in 812 BCE, and join the Athenian-Spartan Alliance versus the Golden Kingdom.

When Dido learned that Aeneas had died in the war she created a ceremonial pyre, then she ascended in the pyre, proclaiming her willingness to go to her lover, and then took her own life with a sword.

# Post-Dido Era

After Dido's death, Carthage continued to flourish as a major Phoenician colony. The kingdom became a powerful maritime and trading center, establishing colonies across the Mediterranean. Carthaginian influence expanded, and the city grew wealthy through trade and commerce.

The Foundations of modern cities in Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Iberia, and Libya. were established as trading stations along the African coast. Carthage had two major trade routes: one between Southern Spain, which supplied raw materials for manufacturing, and the other between North Africa and the northern Mediterranean.

Around 600 BCE, Carthage population rose to 30,000. Becoming immensely wealthy from its strategic location and extensive trade network. Carthage provided a myriad of rare and luxurious goods, including terracotta figurines and masks, jewelry, delicately carved ivories, ostrich eggs, and a variety of foods and wine.

# Sicilian Wars

Carthage's colonization led to a series of conflicts known as the Sicilian Wars in 580 to 265 BCE, as Carthage and Greek colonial city-states vied for control over the island.

The First Sicilian War primarily involved Carthage and the Greek city-state of Syracuse. Carthage sought to expand its influence in Sicily, but the war ended inconclusively, with both sides retaining their territories.

The Second Sicilian War saw Athens getting involved on the side of the Sicilian Greeks. Alcibiades, an Athenian general, played a significant role in supporting the Greek cause. However, the expedition ultimately ended in disaster for Athens as they suffered a decisive defeat in 405 BCE. This conflict weakened both Carthage and the Greek city-states in Sicily.

The third Sicilian War involved conflict between Carthage and the Greek city-states. Dionysius I of Syracuse emerged as a powerful figure during this time. The war concluded with the Peace of Philinus in 392 BCE, which established the river Halycus in Sicily as the boundary between Carthaginian and Greek territories. The agreement marked a relatively stable period in the region for some time.

# The Punic Wars

After the Sicilian Wars, Carthage faced various challenges, including conflicts with neighboring Numidia, internal political strife, and struggles with other Mediterranean powers. In the subsequent centuries, Carthage's rivalry with Rome grew, eventually leading to the three Punic Wars.

The First Punic War was a struggle for control over the island of Sicily. Both Rome and Carthage sought dominance in the western Mediterranean.

The war was characterized by intense naval warfare, with Rome building a formidable fleet to challenge Carthage at sea. The Roman invention of the corvus, a boarding device, played a crucial role in their naval victories.

The First Punic War concluded with the defeat of Carthage, and the signing of the Treaty of Lutatius in 241 BCE. Carthage ceded Sicily to Rome and agreed to pay a significant indemnity.

The Second Punic War is the most famous, largely due to the brilliant military strategies of the Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca. He crossed the Alps with his army and inflicted several major defeats on Roman forces, including the Battle of Cannae in 216 BCE.

Despite Hannibal's successes, the war concluded with the Treaty of Zama in 201 BCE, which severely weakened Carthage. Carthage lost its overseas territories, and Rome imposed heavy indemnities.

The Third Punic War was triggered by Rome's growing distrust and fear of Carthage's resurgence. Rome laid siege to Carthage, and after a lengthy and brutal conflict, the city fell in 146 BCE. The Romans, led by Scipio Aemilianus, destroyed Carthage, ending the Punic Wars.

The destruction of Carthage marked the end of the Carthage Kingdom and established the Roman Republic as the dominant power in Europe.