Carthage. History of the Phoenicians in North Africa. Carthage - the history of the ancient state briefly Message on the topic of the city of Carthage

Carthage- Phoenician, or Punic, state with its capital in the city of the same name, which existed in ancient times in northern Africa, on the territory of modern Tunisia. Carthage was founded in 814 BC. e. colonists from the Phoenician city of Tyre. According to legend, Carthage was founded by Queen Elissa (Dido), who fled from Tyre after her brother Pygmalion, king of Tyre, killed her husband Syche to take possession of his wealth. Throughout the history of Carthage, the inhabitants of the city were famous for their business acumen.

Location
Carthage was founded on a promontory with entrances to the sea in the north and south. The location of the city made it the leader of the maritime trade in the Mediterranean. All ships crossing the sea inevitably passed between Sicily and the coast of Tunisia. The length of the massive city walls was 37 kilometers, and the height in some places reached 12 meters. Most of the walls were located on the coast, which made the city impregnable from the sea. The city had a huge cemetery, places of worship, markets, a city hall, towers, and a theater. It was divided into four identical residential areas. Approximately in the middle of the city stood a high citadel called Birsa. It was one of the most big cities in Hellenistic times.

Story
Carthage was founded by people from the Phoenician city of Tyre at the end of the 9th century BC. e. According to legend, the city was founded by the widow of a Phoenician king named Dido. She promised the local tribe to pay a gem for a piece of land bounded by the skin of a bull, but on the condition that the choice of location was left to her. After the deal was made, the colonists chose a convenient place for the city, ringing it with narrow belts made from a single oxhide. According to Herodotus, Justin and Ovid, soon after the founding of the city, relations between Carthage and the local population deteriorated. Giarb, the leader of the Makaktan tribe, under the threat of war, demanded the hand of Queen Dido, but she preferred death to marriage. The war, however, began and was not in favor of the Carthaginians. According to Ovid, Giarbus even captured the city and held it for several years. Judging by the items found during archaeological excavations, at the beginning of its history, trade links connected Carthage with the metropolis, as well as Cyprus and Egypt. In the VIII century BC. e. the situation in the Mediterranean has changed dramatically. Phoenicia was captured by Assyria and numerous colonies became independent. Assyrian rule caused a massive outflow of population from the ancient Phoenician cities to the colonies. Probably, the population of Carthage was replenished with refugees to such an extent that Carthage was able to form colonies on its own. The first Carthaginian colony in the western Mediterranean was Ebess on the Pitius Islands. At the turn of the 7th and 6th centuries. BC e. Greek colonization began. In order to resist the advance of the Greeks, the Phoenician colonies began to unite into states. In Sicily - Panorm, Soluent, Motia in 580 BC. e. successfully resisted the Greeks. In Spain, an alliance of cities led by Hades fought Tartessus. But the basis of a single Phoenician state in the west was the union of Carthage and Utica. The favorable geographical position allowed Carthage to become the largest city in the western Mediterranean (population reached 700,000 people), unite the rest of the Phoenician colonies in North Africa and Spain and conduct extensive conquests and colonization.
Carthage before the Punic Wars
In the 6th century, the Greeks founded the colony of Massalia and made an alliance with Tartessus. Initially, the Punians were defeated, but Magon I reformed the army, an alliance was concluded with the Etruscans, and in 537 BC. e. in the battle of Alalia, the Greeks were defeated. Soon Tartessos was destroyed and all the Phoenician cities of Spain were annexed. The main source of wealth was trade - Carthaginian merchants traded in Egypt, Italy, Spain, the Black and Red Seas - and agriculture, based on the widespread use of slave labor. There was a regulation of trade - Carthage sought to monopolize trade; to this end, all subjects were obliged to trade only through the mediation of Carthaginian merchants. During the Greco-Persian wars, Carthage was in alliance with Persia, together with the Etruscans, an attempt was made to completely capture Sicily. But after the defeat at the Battle of Himera (480 BC) by a coalition of Greek city-states, the struggle was suspended for several decades. The main opponent of the Punians was Syracuse, the war lasted at intervals for almost a hundred years (394-306 BC) and ended with the almost complete conquest of Sicily by the Punians.
In the III century BC. e. the interests of Carthage came into conflict with the intensified Roman Republic. Relations began to deteriorate. For the first time this manifested itself at the final stage of the war between Rome and Tarentum. Finally, in 264 BC. e. The First Punic War began. It was conducted mainly in Sicily and at sea. The Romans captured Sicily, but this was affected by the almost complete absence of Rome's fleet. Only by 260 BC. e. the Romans created a fleet and, using boarding tactics, won a naval victory at Cape Mila. In 256 BC. e. the Romans moved the fighting to Africa, defeating the fleet, and then the land army of the Carthaginians. But the consul Attilius Regulus did not use the advantage gained, and a year later the Punic army under the command of the Spartan mercenary Xanthippus inflicted a complete defeat on the Romans. Only in 251 BC. e. in the battle of Panorma (Sicily), the Romans won a big victory, capturing 120 elephants. Two years later, the Carthaginians won a great naval victory and there was a lull.
Hamilcar Barka
In 247 BC. e. Hamilcar Barca became the commander-in-chief of Carthage, thanks to his outstanding abilities, success in Sicily began to lean towards the Punians, but in 241 BC. e. Rome, having gathered its strength, was able to put up a new fleet and army. Carthage could no longer resist them and, after the defeat, was forced to make peace, ceding Sicily to Rome, and paying an indemnity of 3,200 talents for 10 years. After the defeat, Hamilcar resigned, power passed to his political opponents, who were led by Hanno.
The apparent inability of the aristocratic government to effectively govern led to the strengthening of the democratic opposition, led by Hamilcar. The People's Assembly gave him the powers of commander-in-chief. In 236 BC. e., having conquered the entire African coast, he transferred the fighting to Spain. He fought there for 9 years until he fell in battle. After his death, his son-in-law Hasdrubal was chosen as the commander-in-chief of the army. For 16 years, most of Spain was conquered and firmly tied to the metropolis. Silver mines delivered very large incomes; strong army. In general, Carthage became much stronger than it was even before the loss of Sicily.
Hannibal Barka
After the death of Hasdrubal, the army chose Hannibal - the son of Hamilcar - as commander-in-chief. All his children - Magon, Hasdrubal and Hannibal - Hamil kar brought up in the spirit of hatred for Rome, therefore, having gained control of the army, Hannibal began to look for a reason for war. In 218 BC. e. he captured Saguntum - a Spanish city and an ally of Rome - the war began. Unexpectedly for the enemy, Hannibal led his army around through the Alps to the territory of Italy. There he won a number of victories - at Ticinum, Trebia and Lake Trasimene. A dictator was appointed in Rome, but in 216 BC. e. near the city of Cannes, Hannibal inflicted a crushing defeat on the Romans, which resulted in the transition to the side of Carthage of a significant part of Italy, and the second most important city, Capua. With the death of Hannibal's brother Hasdrubal, who led him significant reinforcements, the situation of Carthage became very complicated.
Campaigns of Hannibal
Rome soon moved the fighting to Africa. Having entered into an alliance with the Numidian king Massinissa, Scipio inflicted a series of defeats on the Punians. Hannibal was called to his homeland. In 202 B.C. e. in the battle of Zama, commanding a poorly trained army, he was defeated, and the Carthaginians decided to make peace. Under its terms, they were forced to give Rome Spain and all the islands, maintain only 10 warships and pay 10,000 talents of indemnity. In addition, they did not have the right to fight with anyone without the permission of Rome. After the end of the war, Gannon, Gisgon and Hasdrubal Gad, who were hostile to Hannibal, the heads of the aristocratic parties, tried to get Hannibal condemned, but, supported by the population, he managed to retain power. In 196 BC. e. Rome defeated Macedonia in the war, which was an ally of Carthage.
Fall of Carthage
Even after losing two wars, Carthage managed to recover quickly and soon became one of the richest cities again. In Rome, trade has long become an essential branch of the economy, the competition of Carthage hindered its development. His quick recovery was also of great concern. The king of the Numidians, Massinissa, constantly attacked the Carthaginian possessions; realizing that Rome always supported the opponents of Carthage, he moved on to direct seizures. All complaints of the Carthaginians were ignored and decided in favor of Numidia. Finally, the Punians were forced to give him a direct military rebuff. Rome immediately filed claims in connection with the outbreak of hostilities without permission. The Roman army arrived at Carthage. The frightened Carthaginians asked for peace, the consul Lucius Censorinus demanded that all weapons be handed over, then demanded that Carthage be destroyed and that a new city be founded far from the sea. After asking for a month to think it over, the Punians prepared for war. Thus began the Third Punic War. The city was fortified, so it was possible to capture it only after 3 years of difficult siege and heavy fighting. Carthage was completely destroyed, of the 500,000 population, 50,000 were taken prisoner and became slaves. The literature of Carthage was destroyed, with the exception of a treatise on agriculture written by Mago. A Roman province was created on the territory of Carthage, ruled by a governor from Utica.

The legendary wealth of Carthage
Built on the foundation laid by the ancestors of the Phoenicians, Carthage created its own trade network and developed it to an unprecedented size. Carthage maintained its monopoly on trade through a powerful fleet and mercenary troops. Carthaginian merchants were constantly looking for new markets. Approximately 480 BC. e. navigator Himilcon landed in British Cornwall, rich in tin. And after 30 years, Hanno, a native of an influential Carthaginian family, led an expedition of 60 ships, on which there were 30,000 men and women. People were landed in different parts of the coast to establish new colonies. Entrepreneurship and business acumen helped Carthage become, admittedly, richest city ancient world. " At the beginning of the III century BC. e. thanks to technology, fleet and trade... the city has moved to the forefront", - says the book "Carthage". The Greek historian Appian wrote of the Carthaginians: Their power militarily became equal to the Hellenic, but in terms of wealth it was in second place after the Persian».

Regions and cities
The agricultural areas in mainland Africa - the area inhabited by the Carthaginians proper - approximately correspond to the territory of modern Tunisia, although other lands also fell under the authority of the city. There were also real Phoenician colonies - Utica, Leptis, Hadrumet, etc. Information about the relations of Carthage with these cities and some Phoenician settlements in Africa or elsewhere is scarce. The cities of the Tunisian coast showed independence in their politics only in 149 BC, when it became obvious that Rome intended to destroy Carthage. Some of them submitted to Rome. In general, Carthage managed to choose a political line, which was joined by the rest of the Phoenician cities both in Africa and on the other side of the Mediterranean. The Carthaginian empire was vast. In Africa, its easternmost city was over 300 km east of Aea. Between it and the Atlantic Ocean, the ruins of a number of ancient Phoenician and Carthaginian cities were discovered. Around 500 BC or a little later, the navigator Hanno led an expedition that founded several colonies on the Atlantic coast of Africa. He ventured far to the south and left a description of gorillas, tom-toms and other African sights rarely mentioned by ancient authors. The colonies and trading posts were for the most part located at a distance of about one day's sail from each other. Usually they were on islands near the coast, on capes, in the mouths of rivers, or in those places on the mainland of the country, from where it was easy to get to the sea. The power consisted of Malta and two neighboring islands. Carthage fought the Sicilian Greeks for centuries, under its rule were Lilibey and other well-fortified ports in the west of Sicily, as well as, at various periods, other areas on the island. Gradually, Carthage also established control over the fertile regions of Sardinia, while the inhabitants of the mountainous regions of the island remained unconquered. Foreign merchants were denied access to the island. At the beginning of the 5th c. BC. The Carthaginians began to explore Corsica. Carthaginian colonies and trading settlements also existed on the southern coast of Spain, while the Greeks entrenched themselves on the eastern coast. Since arriving here in 237 BC. Hamilcar Barca and before the campaign of Hannibal in Italy, great success was achieved in subjugating the interior regions of Spain.

Government system
Carthage owned fertile lands in the interior of the mainland, it had an advantageous geographical position that favored trade, and also allowed it to control the waters between Africa and Sicily, preventing foreign ships from sailing further west.
Compared with many famous cities of antiquity, Punic Carthage is not so rich in finds, since in 146 BC. the Romans methodically destroyed the city, and in the Roman Carthage, founded on the same site in 44 BC, intensive construction was carried out. Carthage was surrounded by powerful walls with a length of approx. 30 km. Its population is unknown. The citadel was heavily fortified. The city had a market square, a council building, a court and temples. In the quarter called Megara, there were many vegetable gardens, orchards and winding canals. Ships entered the trading harbor through a narrow passage. For loading and unloading, up to 220 ships could be pulled ashore at the same time. Behind the trading harbor there was a military harbor and an arsenal. According to its state structure, Carthage was an oligarchy. Despite the fact that at home, in Phoenicia, the power belonged to the kings. The ancient authors, who for the most part admired the structure of Carthage, compared it with the state system of Sparta and Rome. The power here belonged to the Senate, which was in charge of finance, foreign policy, the declaration of war and peace, and also carried out the general conduct of the war. Executive power was vested in two elected Suffet magistrates. Obviously, these were senators, and their duties were exclusively civil, not involving control over the army. Together with the commanders of the army, they were elected by the people's assembly. The same positions were established in the cities under the rule of Carthage. Although many aristocrats owned vast agricultural lands, land ownership was not the only basis for achieving a high social position. Trade was considered quite a respectable occupation, and the wealth obtained in this way was treated with respect.

Religion of Carthage
The Carthaginians, like other Mediterranean peoples, imagined the universe divided into three worlds, located one above the other. Perhaps this is the same world serpent, which the Ugaritians called Latana, and the ancient Jews called Leviathan. The earth was thought to lie between two oceans. The sun rising from the eastern ocean, bypassing the earth, plunged into the western ocean, which was considered the sea of ​​darkness and the abode of the dead. The souls of the dead could get there on ships or on dolphins. The sky was the seat of the Carthaginian gods. Since the Carthaginians were immigrants from the Phoenician city of Tyre, they revered the gods of Canaan, but not all of them. Yes, and the Canaanite gods on the new soil changed their appearance, absorbing the features of local gods.

The first place among the Carthaginian deities was occupied by the maiden goddess Tannit, known from the 5th century BC. BC e. according to the religious formula of Punic inscriptions as "Tannit before Baal". In importance, she corresponded to the great goddesses of Ugarit - Asher, Astarte and Anat, but did not coincide with them in functions and in many respects surpassed them, which can be seen at least from her full name . The symbols of Tannit were a crescent, a dove and a triangle with a cross-bar - as if a schematic representation of the female body. One of the main gods of the Carthaginians - Baal-Hammon, who found himself in the shadow of Tannit - retained some features of his predecessor Balu: Baal was also the patron of agriculture, the "bread-bearer", and was depicted with ears of corn in his left hand. Identified with the Greek Kronos, the Etruscan Satre, and the Roman Saturn, Baal-Hammon belonged to the older generation of gods; it was to him that numerous human sacrifices were made. No less revered god in Carthage was Reshef, already known to the Canaanites in the 2nd millennium BC. e., but was not then one of the main gods. The very name Reshef means "flame", "spark", and the god's attribute was a bow, which gave the Greeks reason to identify him with Apollo, although in fact he was most likely the god of thunder and heavenly light, like the Greek Zeus, the Etruscan Tin and the Roman Jupiter . Along with the gods, the Carthaginians revered heroes. Known are the altars of the Filen brothers, who became famous for their exploits in the fight against the local population or the Hellenes. Gods and heroes were worshiped both in the open air, near the altars dedicated to them, and in the temples run by the priests. The combination of priestly and secular positions was allowed. The priesthood of each temple was a collegium, headed by the chief priest, who belonged to the highest strata of the aristocracy. The bulk of the temple staff consisted of ordinary priests and priestesses, whose positions were also considered honorary. Among the ministers were also fortune-tellers, musicians, sacred barbers, scribes and slaves, who occupied a higher position than private and public slaves. The cult attached special importance to sacrifices, usually accompanied by theatrical performances. Part of the harvest, animals and people were sacrificed. Human sacrifices are known to many ancient religions, but if among the Hellenes, Etruscans, Romans they were not of a permanent nature, then in Carthage human sacrifices were made annually - not a single major religious holiday could do without them. The most common were the sacrifices of newborn children. The Carthaginians took the most senior citizens as hostages, the Carthaginian gods demanded as a sacrifice, first of all, the children of the nobility. And none of the prominent politicians and military leaders could save their child from this fate. Over time, the thirst for blood among the Carthaginian gods increased: children were sacrificed to them more and more often and in more and more new territories that were part of the Carthaginian state.

Trade policy
The Carthaginians excelled in trade. Carthage can well be called a trading state, since in its policy it was guided by commercial considerations. Many of his colonies and trading posts were no doubt founded for the purpose of expanding trade. It is known about some expeditions undertaken by the Carthaginian rulers, the reason for which was also the desire for wider trade relations. In an agreement concluded by Carthage in 508 BC. with the Roman Republic, which had just emerged after the expulsion of the Etruscan kings from Rome, it was provided that Roman ships should not sail to the western part of the sea, but they could use the harbor of Carthage. In the event of a forced landing anywhere else in Punic territory, they asked for official protection from the authorities and, after repairing the ship and replenishing food supplies, they immediately set sail. Carthage agreed to recognize the boundaries of Rome and respect its people, as well as its allies. The Carthaginians made agreements and, if necessary, made concessions. They also resorted to force in order to prevent rivals from entering the waters of the western Mediterranean, which they considered as their fiefdom, with the exception of the coast of Gaul and the coasts of Spain and Italy adjacent to it. They also fought against piracy. Carthage, did not show due attention to coinage. Apparently, there was no own coin here until the 4th century BC. BC, when silver coins were issued, which, if the surviving specimens are considered typical, varied considerably in weight and quality. Perhaps the Carthaginians preferred to use the reliable silver coin of Athens and other states, and most transactions were made through direct barter.

Agriculture
The Carthaginians were skilled farmers. Of the grain crops, wheat and barley were the most important. The wine produced for sale was of average quality. Fragments of ceramic containers found during archaeological excavations in Carthage indicate that the Carthaginians imported higher quality wines from Greece or from the island of Rhodes. The Carthaginians were famous for their addiction to wine, special laws were passed against drunkenness. In North Africa, olive oil was produced in large quantities, although of poor quality. Figs, pomegranates, almonds, date palms grew here, and ancient authors mention vegetables such as cabbage, peas and artichokes. Horses, mules, cows, sheep and goats were bred in Carthage. The Numidians, who lived to the west, on the territory of modern Algeria, preferred thoroughbred horses and were famous as riders. Most of the African possessions of Carthage were divided among the wealthy Carthaginians, whose large estates were managed on a scientific basis. After the fall of Carthage, the Roman Senate, wishing to attract wealthy people to restore production in some of its lands, ordered that this manual be translated into Latin. As tenants, or sharecroppers, local residents worked - Berbers, and sometimes groups of slaves under the leadership of overseers.

Craft
Carthaginian artisans specialized in the production of cheap products, mostly reproducing Egyptian, Phoenician and Greek designs and destined for marketing in the western Mediterranean, where Carthage captured all the markets. The production of luxury goods - for example, the bright purple paint, commonly known as "Tyrian purple" - is known in the later period, when the Romans ruled North Africa, but it can be considered that it existed before the fall of Carthage. In Morocco and on the island of Djerba, in the best places for obtaining murex, permanent settlements were founded. In accordance with Eastern traditions, the state was a slave owner, using slave labor in arsenals, shipyards or construction.
Some Punic craftsmen were very skilled, especially in carpentry and metal work. A Carthaginian carpenter could use cedar wood for work, the properties of which were known from ancient times by the masters of Ancient Phoenicia, who worked with Lebanese cedar. Due to the constant need for ships, both carpenters and metalworkers were invariably distinguished by a high level of skill. The largest of the handicraft industries was the manufacture of ceramic products. The remains of workshops and pottery kilns, filled with products that were intended for firing, were found. Every Punic settlement in Africa produced pottery, which is found everywhere in the areas that were part of the sphere of Carthage - in Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Spain.

Existed in those places 2500 years ago.

Ancient Carthage is the ruins of Roman buildings that rose above Carthage in the Punic or Phoenician era.

"Carthage was at one time the richest city in the world. Agriculture, which was the basis of its well-being, was considered an honorable occupation.

The turbulent history of Carthage - now a clean and prosperous suburb, located 20 kilometers from Tunis - began in 814 BC. Queen Dido or Elissa, pursued by her brother, the ruler of the Phoenician city of Tyre, Pygmalion, landed on the northern coast of Tunisia after long wanderings. Dido asked the local king to give her asylum and allow her to build a house. The king did not want to agree to anything. Then Dido asked to give her as much land as the skin of a bull could cover. The king was in a good mood and was delighted with the new entertainment. Dido ordered the largest bull to be slaughtered, and then she cut his skin into very narrow strips, and surrounded a large area with them. According to the legend of the founding of the city, Dido, who was allowed to occupy as much land as an ox-skin would cover, took possession of a large area by cutting the skin into narrow belts. That is why the citadel put on this place was called Birsa (which means "skin").

So, according to legend, Carthage was founded.
CHAPTER 1

HISTORY OF ANCIENT CARTHAGE

1.1 ANCIENT CARTHAGE.

Carthage (meaning "new city" in Phoenician) was founded in 814 BC. e. colonists from the Phoenician city of Tire. The Romans called it Carthago, the Greeks called it Carchedon.

After the fall of Phoenician influence in the Western Mediterranean, Carthage resubordinates the former Phoenician colonies. By the III century BC. e. he becomes the largest state in the west of the Mediterranean, subjugating southern Spain, northern Africa, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica.

The city was surrounded by a 34-kilometer strip of walls nine meters thick and fifteen meters high. Inside the walls there were several hundred war elephants in pens, forage warehouses; there were stables for four thousand horses and barracks for 20 thousand infantrymen. Our minds hardly comprehend what expenditure of energy and human lives it took the Romans to crush these fiercely defended cyclopean structures.

Situated on a lightly guarded peninsula with an unlimited supply of fish, ancient Carthage prospered, becoming one of the richest cities in the world at that time. However, the wealth of Carthage haunted the city's longtime rivals. And Rome waited in the wings - in 146 BC. after more than a century of fighting, Rome destroyed the city.

In IV BC. e. the city of Carthage expanded greatly and began to be populated by merchants, artisans and landowners. Near Birsa, a vast residential area of ​​Megara, built up with multi-storey buildings, arose. Carthage developed as a large slave-owning state, which owned many colonies. The merciless exploitation of enslaved peoples and the slave trade provided a huge influx of wealth. In the ancient Roman annals, the Carthaginians are called Puns and characterize them as cruel and treacherous enemies who do not know mercy for the vanquished. As a military-trade and slave-owning power, Carthage constantly needed a fleet and an army. Carthage had a first-class fleet and army, which kept the peoples subject to Carthage in unconditional obedience. The army was recruited from among foreign mercenaries. From each oh nationalities formed a special kind of troops. For example, the Libyans made up the infantry, the Numidians - the cavalry. The inhabitants of the Balearic Islands supplied detachments of slingers - stone throwers to the Carthaginian army. The multi-tribal, multi-lingual Carthaginian army was controlled by local leaders, commanded by Carthaginian commanders and officers. The Punic Carthaginians did not carry out ordinary military service. The Carthaginian army had permanent units armed with stone-throwing and ramming machines to take fortresses. Special units of the army had war elephants, which were used to break through enemy ranks and exterminate enemy manpower during the battle.

Even more important was the navy. In navigation, the Carthaginians used the age-old experience of the Phoenicians. They were the first to build large five-deck ships - penthers, which easily overtook and destroyed Roman and Greek triremes and galleys in battle. The flagships of the Carthaginians were seven-deck and were called heptera.

The National Museum of Carthage, located on the hill of Byrsa, where the fortress used to be, is a great place to start exploring these places. The museum presents an extensive collection of archaeological finds - ceramics, oil lamps, utensils, mosaics - reflecting the features of the life of the Carthaginians more than a millennium ago.

Enormous reservoirs have been preserved in the ruins of Carthage. A group of such tanks is located near the suburbs of Mars, and has more than 25 tanks. Another group is located near the suburb of Malga. There were at least 40 containers here. Not far from them are the ruins of a large aqueduct that supplied water to Carthage from a ridge in the mountains of the Tunisian Atlas. The aqueduct has a total length of 132 km. Water was supplied by gravity, passing through several large valleys, where the aqueduct had a height of more than 20 m. This aqueduct was founded by the Carthaginians, rebuilt in 136 AD. e. Romans (under Emperor Hadrian, 117-138). Under the emperor Septimius Severus (193-211) it was rebuilt again. The aqueduct was destroyed and rebuilt by vandals. The ruins of the aqueduct are still striking in their grandiose size. It was the longest aqueduct in ancient times. The second longest aqueduct is located near Rome.
At the very top of the Carthaginian Upland, near the village of Sidi Bou Said, at a considerable distance from Birsa, there are the ruins of early Christian religious buildings. This is the Basilica of Damos el Carita. It was a huge building: about 65 m long and at least 45 m wide. The basilica had nine naves. The central nave had a span of 13 m. To the south of this nave was the apse of the basilica. Four columns point to the iconostasis that once stood here.

There are only two monuments of the Punic era in Carthage - the ruins of the temples of Tanit and Baal-Hammon and the cemetery of the victims of the goddess Tanit (each family, including the royal family, sacrificed a baby).

Tinnit (Tanit) is a strange goddess. It is not known how her cult came about. Tinnit was identified with Astarte, goddess of fertility and love in Syria, Phoenicia and Palestine; in Hellenistic times - with the mother of the gods Juno, with Aphrodite Urania or Artemis.

She is a virgin and at the same time a wife; "eye and face" of the supreme deity, Baal-Hammon, goddess of the moon, sky, fertility, patroness of childbearing.

At the same time, Tinnit does not shine with female beauty and article. An ancient sculptor depicted her as a squat woman with a lion's head; later, the "great mother" was represented as a winged woman with a lunar disk in her hands. On various images, Tinnit is surrounded by monstrous creatures: winged bulls, elephants flying with their trunks up, fish with human heads, many-legged snakes.

Modern Tunisia, on the territory of which Carthage was once located, is a small prosperous Mediterranean state, which, not without reason, is called "the most European country in North Africa."
1.2 CITY AND STATE

Carthage owned fertile lands in the interior of the mainland, it had an advantageous geographical position that favored trade, and also allowed it to control the waters between Africa and Sicily, preventing foreign ships from sailing further west.

Compared with many famous cities of antiquity, Punic (from the Latin punicus or poenicus - Phoenician) Carthage is not so rich in finds, since in 146 G BC. the Romans methodically destroyed the city, and in the Roman Carthage, founded on the same site in 44 BC, intensive construction was carried out. G The city of Carthage was surrounded by powerful walls with a length of approx. 30 km. Its population is unknown. The citadel was heavily fortified. The city had a market square, a council building, a court and temples. In the quarter called Megara, there were many vegetable gardens, orchards and winding canals. Ships entered the trading harbor through a narrow passage. For loading and unloading, up to 220 ships could be pulled ashore at the same time (the ancient ships should have been kept on land if possible). Behind the trading harbor there was a military harbor and an arsenal.

Regions and cities.The agricultural areas in mainland Africa - the area inhabited by the Carthaginians proper - approximately correspond to the territory of modern Tunisia, although other lands also fell under the authority of the city. When the ancient authors speak of the numerous cities that were in the possession of Carthage, they certainly mean ordinary villages. However, there were also real Phoenician colonies here - Utica, Leptis, Hadrumet, etc. The cities of the Tunisian coast showed independence in their politics only in 149 BC, when it became obvious that Rome intended to destroy Carthage. Some of them then submitted to Rome. In general, Carthage managed (probably after 500 BC) to choose a political line, which was joined by the rest of the Phoenician cities both in Africa and on the other side of the Mediterranean.

Carthaginian power was very extensive. In Africa, its easternmost city was located more than 300 km east of Ei (modern Tripoli). Between it and the Atlantic Ocean, the ruins of a number of ancient Phoenician and Carthaginian cities were discovered. Around 500 BC or a little later, the navigator Hanno led an expedition that founded several colonies on the Atlantic coast of Africa. He ventured far to the south and left a description of gorillas, tom-toms and other African sights rarely mentioned by ancient authors.

The colonies and trading posts were for the most part located at a distance of about one day's sail from each other. Usually they were on islands near the coast, on capes, in the mouths of rivers, or in those places on the mainland of the country, from where it was easy to get to the sea. For example, Leptis, located near modern Tripoli, in the Roman era served as the final seaside point of the great caravan route from the interior, from where merchants brought slaves and golden dust. This trade probably began in the early stages of Carthage's history.

The power consisted of Malta and two neighboring islands. Carthage fought the Sicilian Greeks for centuries, under its rule were Lilibey and other well-fortified ports in the west of Sicily, as well as, at various periods, other areas on the island (it happened that almost all of Sicily was in its hands, except Syracuse). Gradually, Carthage also established control over the fertile regions of Sardinia, while the inhabitants of the mountainous regions of the island remained unconquered. Foreign merchants were denied access to the island. At the beginning of the 5th c. BC. The Carthaginians began to explore Corsica. Carthaginian colonies and trading settlements also existed on the southern coast of Spain, while the Greeks entrenched themselves on the eastern coast.

Apparently, when creating their power scattered over different territories, Carthage did not set other goals than establishing control over them for the sake of obtaining the maximum possible profit.

CHAPTER
II

CARTHAGE CIVILIZATION

2.1Agriculture.

The Carthaginians were skilled farmers. Of the grain crops, wheat and barley were the most important. Some grain was probably delivered from Sicily and Sardinia. The wine produced for sale was of average quality. Fragments of ceramic containers found during archaeological excavations in Carthage indicate that the Carthaginians imported higher quality wines from Greece or from the island of Rhodes. The Carthaginians were famous for their excessive addiction to wine, even special laws against drunkenness were passed, for example, prohibiting the use of wine by soldiers. Figs, pomegranates, almonds, date palms grew here.. Horses, mules, cows, sheep and goats were bred in Carthage.

Unlike republican Rome, in Carthage small farmers did not form the backbone of society. Most of the African possessions of Carthage were divided among the wealthy Carthaginians, whose large estates were managed on a scientific basis. A certain Magon, who probably lived in the 3rd c. BC, wrote a manual on farming. After the fall of Carthage, the Roman Senate, wishing to attract wealthy people to restore production in some of its lands, ordered that this manual be translated into Latin. Excerpts from the work, cited in Roman sources, indicate that Magon used the Greek manuals on agriculture, but tried to adapt them to local conditions. He wrote about large farms and dealt with all aspects of agricultural production. Probably, as tenants, or sharecroppers, local residents worked - Berbers, and sometimes groups of slaves under the leadership of overseers. The emphasis was mainly on cash crops, vegetable oil and wine, but the nature of the area inevitably suggested specialization: the more hilly areas were set aside for orchards, vineyards or pastures. There were also medium-sized peasant farms.

In addition to houses, temples and palaces of the nobility, the city had many workshops: iron, copper, lead, bronze and precious metals, forged weapons, dressed leather, wove and dyed fabrics, made furniture, ceramic dishes, jewelry from precious stones, gold, ivory and glass.

Carthaginian artisans specialized in the production of cheap products, mostly reproducing Egyptian, Phoenician and Greek designs and destined for marketing in the western Mediterranean, where Carthage captured all the markets. The production of luxury goods, such as the bright purple paint commonly known as "Tyrian purple", is known in the later period, when the Romans ruled North Africa, but it can be considered that it existed before the fall of Carthage. The purple snail, a sea snail containing this dye, was best harvested in autumn and winter - seasons not suitable for navigation. In Morocco and on the island of Djerba, in the best places for obtaining murex, permanent settlements were founded.

In accordance with Eastern traditions, the state was a slave owner, using slave labor in arsenals, shipyards or construction. Archaeologists have not found evidence that would indicate the presence of large private craft enterprises, whose products would be distributed in the western market closed to outsiders, while many small workshops were marked. It is often very difficult to distinguish Carthaginian products from items imported from Phoenicia or Greece among the finds. Craftsmen were successful in reproducing simple products, and it seems that the Carthaginians were not too eager to make anything other than copies.

Some Punic craftsmen were very skilled, especially in carpentry and metal work. A Carthaginian carpenter could use cedar wood for work, the properties of which were known from ancient times by the masters of Ancient Phoenicia, who worked with Lebanese cedar. Due to the constant need for ships, both carpenters and metalworkers were invariably distinguished by a high level of skill. There is evidence of their skill in working iron and bronze. The number of ornaments found during excavations is small, but it seems that this people was not inclined to place expensive items in tombs to please the souls of the dead.

The largest of the handicraft industries, apparently, was the manufacture of ceramic products. The remains of workshops and pottery kilns, filled with products that were intended for firing, were found. Every Punic settlement in Africa produced pottery, which is found everywhere in the areas that were part of the sphere of Carthage - in Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Spain. Carthaginian pottery is found from time to time on the coast of France and Northern Italy - where the Greeks from Massalia (modern Marseille) occupied a dominant position in trade and where the Carthaginians were probably still allowed to trade.

Archaeological finds paint a picture of a stable production of simple pottery not only in Carthage itself, but also in many other Punic cities. These are bowls, vases, dishes, goblets, pot-bellied jugs of various purposes, called amphorae, water jugs and lamps. Studies show that their production existed from ancient times until the death of Carthage in 146 BC. Early products for the most part reproduced Phoenician designs, which in turn were often copies of Egyptian ones. It seems that in the 4th and 3rd centuries. BC. the Carthaginians especially appreciated Greek products, which was manifested in the imitation of Greek ceramics and sculpture and the presence of a large number of Greek products of this period in materials from excavations in Carthage.
2.2 TRADE POLICY

The Carthaginians were especially successful in trade. Carthage could well be called a trading state, since its policy was largely guided by commercial considerations. Many of his colonies and trading posts were no doubt founded for the purpose of expanding trade. It is known about some expeditions undertaken by the Carthaginian rulers, the reason for which was also the desire for wider trade relations. In an agreement concluded by Carthage in 508 BC. with the Roman Republic, which had just emerged after the expulsion of the Etruscan kings from Rome, it was provided that Roman ships should not sail to the western part of the sea, but they could use the harbor of Carthage. In the event of a forced landing anywhere else in Punic territory, they asked for official protection from the authorities and, after repairing the ship and replenishing food supplies, they immediately set sail. Carthage agreed to recognize the boundaries of Rome and respect its people, as well as its allies.

The Carthaginians made agreements and, if necessary, made concessions. They also resorted to force in order to prevent rivals from entering the waters of the western Mediterranean, which they considered as their fiefdom, with the exception of the coast of Gaul and the coasts of Spain and Italy adjacent to it. They also fought against piracy. The authorities kept in good repair the complex structures of the commercial harbor of Carthage, as well as its military harbor, which, apparently, was open to foreign ships, but few sailors entered there.

It is striking that such a trading state as Carthage did not show due attention to coinage. Apparently, there was no own coin here until the 4th century BC. BC, when silver coins were issued, which, if the surviving specimens are considered typical, varied considerably in weight and quality. Perhaps the Carthaginians preferred to use the reliable silver coin of Athens and other states, and most transactions were made through direct barter.

Goods and trade routes. Specific data on the subjects of trade of Carthage are surprisingly scarce, although evidence of its trading interests is quite numerous. Typical among such evidence is the story of Herodotus about how trade took place on the western coast of Africa. The Carthaginians landed on the shore in a certain place and laid out the goods, after which they retired to their ships. Then local residents appeared and placed a certain amount of gold next to the goods. If there was enough, the Carthaginians took the gold and sailed away. Otherwise, they left it untouched and returned to the ships, and the natives brought more gold. What these goods were is not mentioned in the story.

Apparently, the Carthaginians brought simple pottery for sale or exchange to those western regions where they were monopolists, and also traded in amulets, jewelry, simple metal utensils and plain glassware. Some of them were produced in Carthage, some - in the Punic colonies. According to a number of accounts, Punic traders offered wine, women and clothing to the natives of the Balearic Islands in exchange for slaves.

It can be assumed that they were engaged in extensive purchases of goods in other craft centers - Egypt, Phenicia, Greece, southern Italy - and transported them to those areas where they enjoyed a monopoly. Punic traders were famous in the harbors of these craft centers. Findings of non-Carthaginian items during archaeological excavations of western settlements suggest that they were brought there on Punic ships.

Some references in Roman literature indicate that the Carthaginians brought various valuable goods to Italy, where ivory from Africa was highly valued. During the empire, a huge number of wild animals were brought from Roman North Africa for the device of games. Figs and honey are also mentioned.

It is believed that Carthaginian ships sailed the Atlantic Ocean for tin from Cornwall. The Carthaginians themselves produced bronze and may have shipped some tin to other places where it was needed for similar production. Through their colonies in Spain, they sought to obtain silver and lead, which could be exchanged for the goods they brought. Ropes for Punic warships were made from esparto grass, which grows in Spain and North Africa. An important article of trade, due to the high price, was purple dye from scarlet. In many areas, traders purchased wild animal skins and skins and found markets for their sale.

As in later times, caravans from the south must have arrived at the ports of Leptis and Aea, as well as Gigtis, which lay somewhat to the west. They carried ostrich feathers, popular in antiquity, and eggs, which served as decorations or bowls. In Carthage, they were painted with ferocious faces and used, as they say, as masks to scare away demons. Caravans also brought ivory and slaves. But the most important cargo was gold dust from the Gold Coast or from Guinea.

Some of the best goods the Carthaginians imported for their own use. Some of the pottery found in Carthage was brought from Greece or from Campagna in southern Italy, where it was made by visiting Greeks. The characteristic handles from Rhodes amphoras found during the excavations of Carthage show that wine was brought here from Rhodes. Surprisingly, high-quality Attic ceramics are not found here.

O culture of the Carthaginiansin the history of ancient Carthage, almost nothing is known. The only lengthy texts in their language that have come down to us are contained in the play of Plautus Punian, where one of the characters, Gannon, utters a monologue, apparently in the authentic Punic dialect, after which he immediately repeats a significant part of it in Latin. In addition, many replicas of the same Gannon are scattered around the play, also with a translation into Latin. Unfortunately, scribes who did not understand the text distorted it. In addition, the Carthaginian language is known only from geographical names, technical terms, proper names and individual words given by Greek and Latin authors. In interpreting these fragments, the similarity of the Punic language with Hebrew is of great help.

The Carthaginians did not have their own artistic traditions. Apparently, in everything that can be attributed to the sphere of art, these people limited themselves to copying other people's ideas and techniques. In ceramics, jewelry and sculpture, they were content with imitation, and sometimes they copied not the best examples. As far as literature is concerned, there is no record of their producing any other writings than purely practical ones, such as Mago's manual on agriculture, and one or two smaller compilation texts in Greek. We are not aware of the presence in Carthage of something that could be called "belles-lettres."

Carthage had an official priesthood, temples and its own religious calendar. The main deities were Baal (Baal) - the Semitic god, known from the Old Testament, and the goddess Tanit (Tinnit), the heavenly queen. Virgil in Aeneid called Juno a goddess who favored the Carthaginians, since he identified her with Tanit. The religion of the Carthaginians is characterized by human sacrifice, which was especially widely practiced during periods of disaster. The main thing in this religion is faith in the effectiveness of cult practice for communicating with the invisible world. In light of this, it is especially surprising that in the 4th and 3rd centuries. BC. the Carthaginians actively joined the mystical Greek cult of Demeter and Persephone; in any case, the material traces of this cult are quite numerous.

2.4 RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PEOPLES

The oldest rivals of the Carthaginians were the Phoenician colonies in Africa, Utica and Hadrumet. It is not clear when and how they had to submit to Carthage: there is no written evidence of any wars.

Alliance with the Etruscans.The Etruscans of northern Italy were both allies and trade rivals of Carthage. These enterprising sailors, merchants and pirates dominated the 6th century. BC. over a large part of Italy. The main area of ​​their settlement was located directly north of Rome. They also owned Rome and the lands to the south - up to the point where they came into conflict with the Greeks of southern Italy. Having entered into an alliance with the Etruscans, the Carthaginians in 535 BC. won a major naval victory over the Phocians - the Greeks who occupied Corsica.

The Etruscans occupied Corsica and held the island for about two generations. In 509 BC the Romans drove them out of Rome and Latium. Soon after this, the Greeks of southern Italy, with the support of the Sicilian Greeks, increased pressure on the Etruscans and in 474 BC. put an end to their power at sea, inflicting a crushing defeat on them near Cum in the Gulf of Naples. The Carthaginians moved to Corsica, already having a foothold in Sardinia.

Fight for Sicily.Even before the major defeat of the Etruscans, Carthage had a chance to measure strength with the Sicilian Greeks. The Punic cities in western Sicily, founded at least no later than Carthage, were forced to submit to him, like the cities of Africa. The rise of two powerful Greek tyrants, Gelon in Syracuse and Theron in Acragas, clearly foreshadowed the Carthaginians that the Greeks would launch a powerful offensive against them to drive them out of Sicily, similar to what happened with the Etruscans in southern Italy. The Carthaginians accepted the challenge and for three years actively prepared to conquer all of eastern Sicily. They acted in concert with the Persians, who were preparing an invasion of Greece itself. According to a later tradition (no doubt erroneous), the defeat of the Persians at Salamis and the equally decisive defeat of the Carthaginians in a land battle at Himera in Sicily occurred in 480 BC. in the same day. Confirming the worst fears of the Carthaginians, Theron and Gelon put up irresistible forces.

A long time passed before the Carthaginians again launched an offensive against Sicily. After Syracuse successfully repelled the Athenian invasion (415-413 BC), having utterly defeated them, they sought to subjugate other Greek cities in Sicily. Then these cities began to seek help from Carthage, who was not slow to take advantage of this and sent a huge army to the island. The Carthaginians were close to capturing the entire eastern part of Sicily. At that moment, the famous Dionysius I came to power in Syracuse, who based the power of Syracuse on cruel tyranny and fought against the Carthaginians with varying success for forty years. At the end of hostilities in 367 BC. the Carthaginians again had to come to terms with the impossibility of establishing full control over the island. The lawlessness and inhumanity perpetrated by Dionysius were partly offset by the help that he provided to the Sicilian Greeks in their struggle with Carthage. Persistent Carthaginians made another attempt to subjugate eastern Sicily during the tyranny of Dionysius the Younger, who became the successor of his father. However, this again did not reach the goal, and in 338 BC, after several years of hostilities that did not allow talking about the advantage of either side, peace was concluded.

There is an opinion that Alexander the Great saw his ultimate goal in establishing dominion over the West as well. After Alexander's return from the great campaign in India, shortly before his death, the Carthaginians, like other peoples, sent an embassy to him, trying to find out his intentions. Perhaps the untimely death of Alexander in 323 BC. saved Carthage from many troubles.

In 311 BC The Carthaginians made another attempt to occupy the eastern part of Sicily. In Syracuse, the new tyrant Agathocles ruled. The Carthaginians had already besieged him in Syracuse and seemed to have the opportunity to capture this main stronghold of the Greeks, but Agathocles with an army sailed from the harbor and attacked the Carthaginian possessions in Africa, creating a threat to Carthage itself. From that moment until the death of Agathocles in 289 BC. the usual war continued with varying success.

In 278 BC the Greeks went on the offensive. The famous Greek commander Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, arrived in Italy to fight against the Romans on the side of the South Italian Greeks. Having won two victories over the Romans with great damage to himself (" Pyrrhic victory”), he crossed over to Sicily. There he pushed back the Carthaginians and almost cleared the island of them, but in 276 BC. with his characteristic fatal inconstancy, he abandoned further struggle and returned to Italy, from where he was soon expelled by the Romans.

Wars with Rome. The Carthaginians could hardly have foreseen that their city was destined to perish as a result of a series of military conflicts with Rome, known as the Punic Wars. The reason for the war was the episode with the Mamertines, Italian mercenaries who were in the service of Agathocles. In 288 BC some of them captured the Sicilian city of Messana (modern Messina), and when in 264 BC. Hieron II, the ruler of Syracuse, began to overcome them, they asked for help from Carthage and at the same time from Rome. For a variety of reasons, the Romans responded to the request and came into conflict with the Carthaginians.

The war went on for 24 years (264–241 BC). The Romans landed troops in Sicily and at first achieved some success, but the army that landed in Africa under the command of Regulus was defeated near Carthage. After repeated failures at sea caused by storms, as well as a series of defeats on land (the Carthaginian army in Sicily was commanded by Hamilcar Barca), the Romans in 241 BC. won a naval battle off the Aegadian Islands, off the western coast of Sicily. The war brought enormous damage and losses to both sides, while Carthage finally lost Sicily, and soon lost Sardinia and Corsica. In 240 BC a dangerous uprising broke out, dissatisfied with the delay in the money of the Carthaginian mercenaries, which was suppressed only in 238 BC.

In 237 BC, just four years after the end of the first war, Hamilcar Barca traveled to Spain and began conquering the interior. To the Roman embassy, ​​who appeared with a question about his intentions, he replied that he was looking for a way to pay an indemnity to Rome as quickly as possible. The wealth of Spain - flora and fauna, minerals, not to mention its inhabitants - could quickly compensate the Carthaginians for the loss of Sicily. However, a conflict broke out again between the two powers, this time due to unrelenting pressure from Rome. In 218 BC Hannibal, the great Carthaginian commander, traveled overland from Spain through the Alps to Italy and defeated the Roman army, scoring several brilliant victories, the most important of which took place in 216 BC. at the Battle of Cannae. Nevertheless, Rome did not sue for peace. On the contrary, he recruited new troops and, after several years of opposition in Italy, moved the fighting to North Africa, where he achieved victory at the Battle of Zama (202 BC).

Carthage lost Spain and finally lost the position of a state capable of challenging Rome. However, the Romans were afraid of the revival of Carthage. It is said that Cato the Elder ended each of his speeches in the Senate with the words "Delenda est Carthago" - "Carthage must be destroyed." They say that it was the magnificent Carthaginian olives that led Senator Cato to the idea of ​​the need to destroy Carthage, a prosperous city despite the wars. He visited here as part of the Roman embassy in the middle of the 2nd century BC. e. and collected a handful of fruit in a leather pouch.

In Rome, Cato showed the senators luxurious olives, declaring with disarming frankness: "The land where they grow is located only three days' sea passage." It was on that day that the phrase was first uttered, thanks to which Cato went down in history. Cato understood both olives and the fate of the world: he was an agronomist and a writer...

"... Carthage must be destroyed!" - with these famous words, the consul Cato the Elder ended his historic speech in the Roman Senate. His words turned out to be prophetic - the army of Carthage was defeated. The mighty state of Hannibal, which once conquered all of North Africa, Sicily, Sardinia and even Southern Spain, ceased to exist, and the once prosperous Mediterranean Carthage was turned into ruins. Even the ground on which the city stood was ordered to sprinkle with a thick layer of salt.

In 149 BC the exorbitant demands of Rome forced the weakened but still wealthy North African state to enter the third war. After three years of heroic resistance, the city fell. The Romans razed it to the ground, sold the surviving inhabitants into slavery and sprinkled the soil with salt. However, five centuries later, Punic was still spoken in some rural parts of North Africa, and Punic blood probably flowed in the veins of many people who lived there. Carthage was rebuilt in 44 BC. and turned into one of the major cities of the Roman Empire, but the Carthaginian state ceased to exist.
CHAPTER
III

ROMAN CARTHAGE

3.1 CARTHAGE
HOW BIG
Y CITY
OY CENTER
.

Julius Caesar, who had a practical wrinkle, ordered the founding of a new Carthage, since he considered it senseless to leave such an advantageous place unused in many respects. In 44 BC, 102 years after its death, the city began a new life. From the very beginning, it flourished as the administrative center and port of an area with rich agricultural production. This period in the history of Carthage lasted almost 750 years.

Carthage became the main city of the Roman provinces in North Africa and the third (after Rome and Alexandria) city in the empire. It served as the residence of the proconsul of the province of Africa, which, in the view of the Romans, more or less coincided with the ancient Carthaginian territory. The administration of the imperial landed estates, which constituted a significant part of the province, was also located here.

Many famous Romans are associated with Carthage and its environs. The writer and philosopher Apuleius studied in Carthage in his youth, and later achieved such fame there thanks to his Greek and Latin speeches that statues were erected in his honor. A native of North Africa was Mark Cornelius Fronto, tutor of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, as well as Emperor Septimius Severus.

The ancient Punic religion was preserved in a Romanized form, and the goddess Tanit was worshiped as Juno of Heaven, and the image of Baal merged with Kron (Saturn). Nevertheless, it was North Africa that became the stronghold of the Christian faith, and Carthage gained fame in the early history of Christianity and was the site of a number of important church councils. In the 3rd century Cyprian was Bishop of Carthage, and Tertullian spent most of his life here. The city was considered one of the largest centers of Latin learning in the empire; St. Augustine in his confessions gives us some vivid sketches of the life of students who attended the rhetorical school of Carthage at the end of the 4th century.

However, Carthage remained only a major urban center and had no political significance.The history of Roman Carthage mentionsstories about public executions of Christians, about Tertullian's violent attacks on noble Carthaginian women who came to church in magnificent worldly outfits, mentions of some outstanding personalities who ended up in Carthage at important moments in history, but it never rises above the level of a large provincial city. For some time it was the capital of the Vandals (429-533 AD), who, like once pirates, set sail from the harbor that dominated the Mediterranean straits. Then the Byzantines conquered this area, holding it until Carthage fell under the onslaught of the Arabs in 697.

In 439 AD e. Vandals led by King Genzeric defeated the Roman troops, and Carthage became the capital of their state. A hundred years later, he passed to the Byzantines and vegetated in provincial silence, until the Arabs in 698 again swept him off the face of the earth - this time irrevocably.

Founding of ancient Carthage

In the first volume of our work, we got acquainted with the various activities of the Phoenicians; we have seen that they ruled the Mediterranean before the development of Greek trade; that the enterprising merchants of Tire and Sidon founded settlements on all the shores and islands of this sea, caught purple shells, developed mines in areas rich in metals, carried on an extremely profitable barter with semi-savage native tribes; that the wealth of Spain and Africa was brought on "Tharshish ships" to the magnificent trading cities of Phoenicia, that the tyrant, under the patronage of Melkart, the "king" of their "city", founded trading posts and cities in places convenient for trade on the Mediterranean coast. We also saw that, due to internal strife (I, 505 et seq.), part of the wealthy citizens left Tire and founded Carthage, the "New City" on the promontory of the African coast against Sicily; that thanks to the fertility of the surroundings, the favorable position for trade, the enterprise, education and business experience of its inhabitants, this city soon reached great power, became much richer and stronger than Tyre.

Expansion of the dominion of Carthage in Africa

At first, the main concern of the Carthaginians was to consolidate their power over the surrounding areas. At first they were forced to give tribute or gifts to the kings of neighboring agricultural and pastoral tribes, so that the predatory natives would refrain from attacking them. But soon they, partly by mental superiority and clever policy, partly by force of arms and the foundation of colonies in the lands of these tribes, managed to subjugate them. The Carthaginians tied the Numidian kings to themselves with honors, gifts, and other means, among other things, by passing off girls from their noble families for them.

By founding their trading colonies, the Carthaginians achieved the same benefits. like the Romans founding military colonies: they rid the capital of the restless poor, gave these poor people prosperity, spread their language. their religious and civil institutions, their nationality, and thereby strengthened their dominion over vast areas. The settlers from Phoenicia strengthened the Canaanite element in northern Africa, so that the Livo-Phoenicians, a people descended from the mixing of colonists with natives, became predominant not only in the coastal regions of Zeugitana and Byzakia, but also at a great distance from the sea. Phoenician language and civilization penetrated far into the depths of Libya; at the courts of the kings of nomadic tribes they spoke and wrote in Phoenician.

The Livo-Phoenicians, who lived all over the country in villages and small unfortified cities, were very useful to the citizens of the trading cities of Primorye. Receiving a large income from agriculture, they paid Carthage a significant land tax, supplied the trading cities with food supplies, and various other goods; the pastoral Numidian tribes, who roamed on abundant pastures along the slopes of the Atlas, kept from raids, accustomed them to agriculture, a settled way of life; made up the bulk of the Carthaginian troops and the main element of the settlers in the founding of colonies overseas; were porters and workers on the Carthaginian wharf, sailors and warriors on Carthaginian ships.

The mercenary troops of the Carthaginians were recruited for the most part from Livo-Phoenician settlers, strong people, accustomed to endure hardships and hardships. The cavalry of the Phoenicians was delivered by the Numidian tribes, who roamed the outskirts of the desert. The Carthaginian citizens formed a sacred band that surrounded the generals. The Livo-Phoenician infantry with the Numidian cavalry and with a small number of Carthaginians formed a brave army that fought well under the command of the Carthaginian commanders in Africa, and at sea, and in foreign lands. But the greedy merchants of Carthage oppressed the agricultural and pastoral population of Africa, incurring their hatred, which often manifested itself in dangerous uprisings, accompanied by fierce revenge.

Ruins of ancient Carthage on Byrsa Hill

Having achieved great power, Carthage easily acquired dominion over those Phoenician colonies that were founded before him: Hippo, Hadrumet, Big Leptida, Small Leptida, Thaps and other cities of that coast (I, 524) were forced to recognize the power of Carthage over themselves and pay him tribute; some of them submitted voluntarily, others were subdued by force; only Utica retained some independence. The Phoenician cities of Africa, subject to Carthage, gave him an army and paid taxes, the size of which was generally significant; instead, their citizens could acquire landed property in the Carthaginian possessions; their marriages with Carthaginian families were full, and they themselves enjoyed the protection of Carthaginian laws.

Navigation of ancient Carthage

Conquering neighboring regions, the Carthaginians undertook long-distance voyages, conducted trade on a large scale. We have a Greek translation of the account of the expedition of Hanno, a brave Carthaginian sailor, who wrote in Phoenician a story about his discoveries and gave it to the temple of Baal for preservation. He, with 60 ships and a large number of settlers, set off for the Pillars of Hercules, sailed along the western coast of Africa, rounded the "South Cape" and founded five settlements behind it, the southernmost of which was on the island of Kerne (I, 524). The Carthaginians carried on a profitable trade there, bartering ivory, leopard and lion skins from the smooth-haired blacks of that coast for clothes and beautiful dishes.

They say that the island of Madeira was known to the Carthaginians, that they thought of moving there if the enemies defeated them in their homeland. About the same time as Hanno made his voyage, another trading expedition of the Carthaginians, following the example of the Tyrians, went along the western coast of Ireland (I, 527). Through the shepherd tribes, the Carthaginians conducted an active trade with central Africa. Caravan routes from Egyptian Thebes, the southern deserts and Carthage converged in the present Fezzan; there the Carthaginians exchanged gold dust, precious stones and black slaves for dates, palm wine and salt.

Fileny

After a long struggle with the Cyrenian Greeks, the Carthaginians agreed on where the border between their possessions should be; it was carried through the desert and determined to be very beneficial for the Carthaginians, thanks to the self-sacrifice of the Filens, who agreed to die for the good of their homeland.

The condition was that the ambassadors would simultaneously leave Cyrene and Carthage towards each other, and that where they converged, there would be a border. Carthaginian ambassadors were the two brothers Filena. They went very hastily and went much further than the Cyrenians expected. The Cyrenian ambassadors, angry and fearful of being punished in their homeland, began to accuse them of deceit and finally offering them a choice either to be buried alive in the place about which they claimed that there should be a border, or to be allowed to move it further from Cyrene; the Cyrenian ambassadors themselves volunteered to be buried at the place where they wanted to designate a border. Philenees sacrificed their lives for their homeland and were buried in the place they reached. It became the border. The Carthaginians placed on their graves "altars of the Filens" and erected monuments in honor of them.

Colonies of ancient Carthage

Carthaginian possessions were not limited to African lands. When the Nineveh and Babylonian kings began to attack Phoenicia and its power fell, and then the Persians conquered it and forced the Phoenician sailors to engage in service on warships instead of trade (I, 509, 534 next), Carthage, considering himself the heir of Tyre, of which he was a citizen founded, appropriated dominion over the Phoenician colonies across the sea. We have seen (I, 517 et seq., 521 fol.) that the dominion of Tire in Spain extended very far, that its citizens mined precious metals there, exported wool and fish from there, caught purple shells off the Spanish coast, that the Tharshish ships loaded with silver, were the pride of Tyre, amazed the peoples neighboring Phoenicia; all the Spanish possessions of Tyre, which had rich Hades as their center, submitted to Carthage either voluntarily or under duress; the Phoenician colonies on the Balearic and Pitius Islands also submitted. The wealth of these trading posts and the treasures of the Spanish mines now went to Carthage; the colonies of Tire in southern Spain began, like the Africans, to pay tribute, to give an army to Carthage. The Phoenician colonies on the Italian islands also submitted to him. Between 550 and 450, the chiefs of the Carthaginian fleets and troops Magon, his sons (Hazdrubal, Hamilcar) and grandchildren conquered Carthage all the colonies and trading posts of Tyre in Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily, Malta and many native tribes of these islands. The ancient Phoenician colony, on the island of Sardinia, Caralis (Cagliari), was enlarged by new settlers; Libyan colonists began to cultivate the fertile coastal parts of the island, the natives went to the mountains of the central part from slavery. From Corsica, the Carthaginians exported honey and wax; on the Elbe (Etalia), rich in iron ore, iron began to be mined.

When the Phocians, who fled from the Persians, wanted to settle in Corsica, the Carthaginians, uniting with the Etruscans, drove them away (II, 387). The Carthaginians tried with all their might to prevent their dangerous rivals, the Greeks, from settling on the coasts of the western Mediterranean Sea and, if possible, to constrain those of their colonies that had already been founded there. For this they concluded with Rome and Latium the commercial treaty which we have already mentioned; their squadrons went from the Spanish islands to attack Massalia; Simultaneously with the invasion of Xerxes into Greece, Hamilcar sailed with a huge army to Sicily; this expedition ended, as we know, with his defeat at Himera (II, 513 following). The Carthaginians had under their rule the old Phoenician colonies in Sicily: Motia, Solunus and Panormus, founded Lilybae there; this beautiful island, rich in bread, wine and olive oil, having such a favorable position for trade, they considered extremely important for their commercial and colonial activities. In the next section we will see how stubbornly they fought for a century and a half with the Greeks for dominion over Sicily; but in a lasting way they owned only the western part of it up to the Galika River; the rest of the coastal regions were held by the Greeks, and in the mountains of the central part the natives continued to graze their flocks: Elims, Sikans, Sikels, and served as mercenaries either in the Carthaginian or in the Greek troops. On the neighboring islands of Sicily, the Liparsky, Egatsky, other small islands and Malta, the Carthaginians had wharfs and warehouses of goods.

Carthaginian power

Thus, from the Tyrian trading post, Carthage became the capital of a vast state, a city so rich that there were hardly other trading cities equal to it in power before. From Tingis to great Sirte, all the cities and tribes of North Africa obeyed him: some paid tribute, others gave an army, or cultivated the fields of Carthaginian citizens. Owning many cities, marinas and fortifications along all the shores and islands of the western Mediterranean Sea, the Carthaginians considered it their property and left little space for Etruscan and Greek trade there. Knowing how to use the products of those countries, acquiring enormous wealth from them, they also used the forces of the natives for their wars. Almost all western tribes served under the Carthaginian banners. Near the detachments of Carthaginian citizens, shining with rich weapons, Libyan infantry with long spears went into battle. Numidian riders dressed in skins rode hot little horses and fought with javelins; Spanish and Gallic mercenaries in colorful national costumes, lightly armed Ligurians and Campanians helped them; the terrible Balearic slingers hurled lead bullets with their slings with such force that it resembled the action of rifle shots.

Prosperity of the Carthaginian region

The revenues of Carthage were enormous. Malaya Leptida paid him annually 365 talents (more than 500,000 rubles); from this it can be seen that the amount of tribute, from all regions of the state, reached a colossal figure; in addition, mines, customs duties, land tax from the villagers brought large incomes. State revenues were so great that Carthaginian citizens did not need to pay any taxes. They enjoyed a flourishing state. In addition to income from extensive trade, from factories, they received money or part of the product from their estates, which lay in an extremely fertile country, they occupied profitable positions of tax collectors and rulers in cities and districts subject to Carthage. Descriptions of Carthage and its environs by Polybius, Diodorus and other ancient writers show that the wealth of the Carthaginians was very great. These descriptions say that the Carthaginian region was covered with orchards and plantations, because canals were built everywhere in it, providing sufficient irrigation. Country houses stretched in continuous rows, testifying with their splendor to the wealth of the owners. The dwellings of the Carthaginians were filled with all sorts of things necessary for convenience and enjoyment. Taking advantage of the long peace, the Carthaginians collected huge stocks of them. Everywhere in the Carthaginian region there were many vineyards, olive groves, orchards. Herds of cattle, sheep and goats grazed in the beautiful meadows; in the lowlands there were huge horse factories. Bread grew luxuriously on the fields; especially there was a lot of wheat and barley. Countless cities and towns of the fertile Carthaginian region were surrounded by vineyards, pomegranates, fig trees, and all sorts of other orchards. Wealth was visible everywhere, because the noble Carthaginians loved to live on their estates and competed with each other in caring for their improvement. Agriculture was among the Carthaginians in a flourishing state; they had such good agricultural writings that the Romans subsequently translated these books into their own language, and the Roman government recommended them to Italian farmers. As the general appearance of the country testified to the wealth of the Carthaginians, so the vastness and beauty of the capital, the enormity of its fortifications, the splendor of public buildings, showed the power of the state, the wisdom and generosity of its government.

Geographic location of Carthage

Carthage stood on a cape connected to the mainland only by a narrow isthmus; this location was very beneficial for maritime trade and at the same time convenient for defense. The coast was steep, the flood from the sea the city was surrounded by only one wall, but on the mainland side it was protected by a triple row of walls that were 30 cubits high and fortified with towers. Between the walls were dwellings for warriors, food stores, stables for cavalry, sheds for war elephants. The harbor on the side of the open sea was assigned to merchant ships, and another, called Coton, after the name of the island located in it, served for warships. There were arsenals on the island. Near the military harbor was the square of people's meetings. From the square, wide, built up with tall houses, the main street of the city led to the citadel, called Birsa: from Birsa, a 60-step climb led to the top of the hill, on which stood the rich, famous temple of Aesculapius (Esmun).

State structure of ancient Carthage

Now we must talk about state structure Carthage, as far as it is known to us from meager fragmentary news.

Aristotle says that aristocratic and democratic elements were combined in the state structure of Carthage, but aristocratic elements prevailed; he finds it very good that the state was ruled by noble families among the Carthaginians, but the people were not completely eliminated from participation in government. From this we see that Carthage retained in general terms those institutions that existed in Tire and belonged to all the Phoenician cities (I, 511 et seq.). Noble families retained all government power in their hands, but owed their influential position not only to their nobility, but also to wealth, the personal merits of their members also had great importance. The council of government, which the Greeks call the Gerusia, and the Romans the Senate, consisted of aristocrats; the number of its members was 300; he had the greatest power over state affairs; its committee was another council, consisting of either 10 or 30 members. The council was chaired by two dignitaries, called sufetes (judges); ancient writers compare them either with the Spartan kings or with the Roman consuls; therefore, some scholars think that their dignity was for life, and others that they were elected for a year. The second opinion must be considered the most probable: annual elections are more in line with the character of an aristocratic republic than lifelong ordination. Current affairs were probably managed by a council of ten (or thirty) senators, with the participation of Sufetes; Roman writers call the members of this council principes; important matters were, of course, decided by the general meeting of the senate. Those questions, the decision of which exceeded the power of the senate, or on which the Sufets and the senate could not agree among themselves, were left to the decision of the popular assembly, which, it seems, also had the power to approve or reject the elections of dignitaries and military leaders made by the senate. But generally speaking, the popular assembly had little influence. Chairmen of the Senate, sufetes. presided over the court. Whether the Sufets were commanders-in-chief by their very rank, or whether they received the power of commanders-in-chief only by special appointment, we do not know; whether both of them could go on a campaign, or one of them had to remain in the city to manage administrative and judicial affairs, we also do not know. The military power of the commander-in-chief was unlimited; but at the conclusion of treaties, he had to obey the opinion of the committee of senators who accompanied the army. To protect the state from the lust for power of the generals, the aristocracy long ago established the "Council of the Hundred", the former guardian of the existing order, who had the right to subject military leaders to his court and punish all sorts of evil intentions.

In aristocratic states there are always several families that enjoy a very great influence on state affairs due to their enormous wealth. If any of these families acquires special fame for their merits, has great commanders who pass on their military experience to children, then it receives such a predominance in the state that thoughts about subordinating the homeland to its dominion can easily arise in it. In the first half of the 6th century, the military leader Malchus (Malch), punished by exile for failure in the war on the island of Sardinia, went with an army to Carthage and crucified ten senators hostile to him on the cross. The Senate managed to defeat this ambitious man, but other such attempts could be feared. The danger has become especially great since the surname of Mago, the founder of the power of the Carthaginians at sea, the first commander who made great conquests outside Africa, acquired tremendous influence; his gifts were hereditary in the three generations of his offspring. In order to protect the state from the ambitions of the generals, the senate chose from among its midst the Council of the Sta, which was charged with reviewing the actions of the generals on their return from the war and keeping them in obedience to the laws. Such was the origin of the formidable college called the Council of the Hundred. It was established, as we see, for the protection of the republican order, but subsequently became a political inquisition, before the despotic power of which everyone had to bow. Aristotle compares the council of the Hundred to the Spartan ephors. This council was not content to curb the evils of military leaders and other ambitious people, it arrogated to itself the right to observe the lifestyle of citizens. He punished military leaders who failed with such merciless cruelty that many took their own lives, preferring this to his fierce judgment. Moreover, the advice of Sta and acted very biasedly. "In Carthage". says Livy (XXXIII, 46) "The committee of judges" (i.e., the council of the Hundred), elected for life, acts autocratically. Property, honor, life of everyone are in their hands. Whoever has one of them as an enemy has all of them as enemies, and when judges are hostile to a person, there will be no shortage of accusers. The members of the council of the Sta assigned life to their rank and strengthened their strength by the fact that they themselves elected comrades for their vacancies. Hannibal, with the assistance of a democratic party, imbued with patriotism and striving to transform the state, took away the dignity of life from the members of the Council of the Hundred and introduced annual elections for its members; this reform was an important step towards replacing oligarchic rule with a democratic one.

Religion of ancient Carthage

Just as in the state system the Carthaginians retained the order that existed in Tyre, so in religion they kept Phoenician beliefs and rituals, although they borrowed from other peoples some deities and forms of worship related to those familiar to them. The Phoenician deities of nature, who were the personifications of her forces, forever remained the dominant deities of the Carthaginians. The Tyrian Melkart retained among the Carthaginians the significance of the supreme tribal god, as we see by the way already from the fact that they constantly sent embassies and gifts to his Tyrian temple. In the representations about him, the wanderings of the people engaged in maritime trade were personified; he was in a symbolic union with Astarte-Dido, the patroness of Carthage; serving him was the link that connected all the Phoenician settlements; therefore he was of high importance to the Carthaginians, and his cult was the most important among them. We have already seen (I, 538 et seq.) that they maintained, in all its horror, the terrible service of Moloch, the god of the sun and fire, whose sacrifices had taken such a tragic development. Contrasts of voluptuousness and sadness, pampered devotion to pleasures and the ability to make extraordinary efforts, readiness for self-torture, courageous energy and sluggish despair, arrogance and servility, love for exquisite pleasures and rude ferocity were deeply rooted in the national character of the Phoenicians; these contrasts were expressed in the service of Astarte and Moloch; therefore, the Carthaginians loved him to such an extent that the voluptuous rites and human sacrifices to Moloch remained with them in full force, when in Tire itself this debauchery and this inhumanity had already been destroyed by the influence of the Persians and Greeks and the development of humanity.

“Severe and gloomy was the religious worldview of the Carthaginians,” says Boetticher: “with anguish in her soul, but with a forced smile to please the deity, the mother sacrificed her beloved child to a terrible idol; such was the whole character of the life of the people. As the religion of the Carthaginians was cruel and servile, so they themselves were gloomy, slavishly obedient to the government, cruel to subjects and strangers, arrogant in anger, timid in fear. Vile sacrifices to Moloch drowned out everything in them human feelings; therefore, it is not surprising that with cold cruelty they mercilessly tortured and killed defeated enemies, did not spare in their fanaticism either the temples or the tombs of the enemy land. On the island of Sardinia, prisoners of war and old people were also sacrificed with forced laughter to God (from this laughter some produce the expression sardonic laughter). It would be better for the Carthaginians not to believe in any gods than to believe in such, says Plutarch, in indignation at these religious horrors.

The liturgical rites of the Carthaginians were just as inextricably linked with all matters of political and military life, as with the Romans. The military leaders made sacrifices before the battle and during the battle itself; with the army were interpreters of the will of the gods, which had to be obeyed; trophies of victories were brought to the temples; at the foundation of a new colony, first of all, they built a temple of a deity who would be its patron; at the conclusion of treaties, higher deities were called to witness, and in particular the deities of fire, earth, air, water, meadows and rivers; in honor of people who rendered great services to the fatherland, altars and temples were erected; for example, Hamilcar, who sacrificed himself in the battle of Himera to the god of fire, the brothers Filen, Alet, having discovered silver ore in New Carthage, were honored as heroes, and temples were placed in altars to them. As in Tire, so in Carthage, the high priest was the first dignitary after the main rulers of the state.

Character of the Carthaginians

Surveying the institutions and customs of the Carthaginians, we see that they brought to the extreme development the traits of the general character of the Semitic tribe, and especially its Phoenician branch. In all Semites, selfishness is sharply manifested: it manifests itself both in their tendency to acquire profit by trade and industry and in their fragmentation into small closed states, clans and families. He favored the development of energy and prevented the emergence of Eastern despotism, in which the individual is absorbed by the universal, enslavement; but he directed his thoughts exclusively to concerns about real life, rejected all ideal and humane aspirations, often forced him to sacrifice the good of society for the benefit of the party, or for personal interests. The Carthaginians had many qualities worthy of high respect; courageous enterprise led them to great discoveries, found trade routes to distant unknown countries; their practical mind perfected the inventions made in Phoenicia, thus contributing to the development of human culture; their patriotism was so strong that they willingly sacrificed everything for the good of their homeland; their troops were beautifully arranged; their fleets dominated the western seas; their ships surpassed all others in size and speed; their state life was more comfortable and stable than in most of the other republics of the ancient world; their cities and villages were rich. But with these respectable qualities, they had great shortcomings and vices. Enviously, they tried by all means, both by force and cunning, to exclude other peoples from participating in their trade and, abusing their strength at sea, often engaged in piracy; they were ruthlessly severe towards their subjects, did not allow them to derive any benefit from the victories won with their assistance, did not bother to tie them to themselves with good, fair relations; they were cruel to their slaves, of whom countless numbers worked on their ships, in their mines, in their commercial and industrial pursuits; they were harsh and ungrateful towards their mercenary troops. Their state life suffered from aristocratic despotism, the combination of several posts in one hand, the corruption of dignitaries, and disregard for the common good because of the benefits of the party. Wealth and an innate propensity for sensual pleasures produced in them such luxury and immorality that all the peoples of the ancient world condemned their depravity; developed by their religious rites, it came to them to infamy. Gifted with a strong mind, they used their abilities not so much for the development of science, for literary and artistic activities, but for inventing tricks, for acquiring benefits for themselves by deceit. They so selfishly used to the detriment of other Semitic peoples the insight and flexibility of mind that the expression "Punic", i.e., Carthaginian "conscientiousness" became a proverb to designate unscrupulous deceit.

Literature and science of ancient Carthage

They did not strive for ideal goals, did not value higher mental activities; did not create culture, like the Greeks, did not create a legal state order, like the Romans, did not create astronomy, like the Babylonians and Egyptians; even in the technical arts, they seem not only not to have surpassed the Tyrians, but not even equal to them. Perhaps their literature was not as insignificant as it seems when all its works perished; perhaps they had good books destroyed by the terrible military storms that devastated the Carthaginian country; but the very fact that all Carthaginian literature perished proves that it had no great inner dignity; otherwise, all of it would not have disappeared almost without a trace in such times that were far from devoid of intellectual interests, more of it would have been preserved than the account of Hanno's expedition in Greek translation, Mago's treatise on agriculture and the vague news that the Romans gave to his allies, the native kings, Carthaginian books of historical content and some other literary works. The field of poetry was alien to the Carthaginians, philosophy was an unknown mystery to them; their art served only luxury and brilliance. Caring exclusively about real life, they did not know the highest aspirations, they did not know the peace of mind and happiness that love for ideal goods brings, they did not know the eternally young realm of fantasy, not destroyed by any blows of fate.

Carthage arose several centuries before the small Gallic settlement of Lutetia, which later became Paris. It already existed in those days when the Etruscans appeared in the north of the Apennine Peninsula - the Romans' teachers in art, navigation and crafts. Carthage was already a city when a furrow was made around the Palatine Hill with a bronze plow, thereby performing the ritual of founding the Eternal City.

Like the beginning of any of the cities, whose history goes back centuries, the founding of Carthage is also associated with a legend. 814 BC e. - the ships of the Phoenician queen Elissa moored near Utica - a Phoenician settlement in North Africa.

They were met by the leader of the Berber tribes who lived nearby. The local population had no desire to allow a whole detachment that arrived from across the sea to a permanent settlement. However, to the request of Elissa to allow them to settle there, the leader agreed. But with one condition: the territory that aliens can occupy must be covered with the skin of only one bull.

The Phoenician queen was not at all embarrassed and ordered her people to cut this skin into the thinnest strips, which they then laid out on the ground in a closed line - tip to tip. As a result, a rather large area came out, which was enough to lay a whole settlement, called Birsa - “Skin”. The Phoenicians themselves called it "Karthadasht" - "New City", "New Capital". After the name it was transformed into Carthage, Cartagena, in Russian it sounds like Carthage.

After a brilliant operation with the skin of a bull, the Phoenician queen took another heroic step. Then the leader of one of the local tribes wooed her to strengthen the alliance with the newcomer Phoenicians. After all, Carthage grew and began to gain respect in the district. But Elissa refused female happiness, chose a different fate. In the name of establishing a new city-state, in the name of the exaltation of the Phoenician people, and so that the gods would sanctify Carthage with their attention and strengthen royal power, the queen ordered a large fire to be built. For the gods, as she said, ordered her to perform the rite of sacrifice ...

And when a huge fire flared up, Elissa threw herself into the hot flame. The ashes of the first queen - the founder of Carthage - fell into the ground, on which the walls of a powerful state soon grew, which survived centuries of prosperity and died, like the Phoenician queen Elissa, in a fiery agony.

This legend has no scientific confirmation yet, and the most ancient finds that were obtained as a result of archaeological excavations date back to the 7th century BC. e.

The Phoenicians brought knowledge, craft traditions, a higher level of culture to these lands and quickly established themselves as skilled and skilled workers. Along with the Egyptians, they mastered the production of glass, excelled in weaving and pottery, as well as in leather dressing, patterned embroidery, and the manufacture of bronze and silver products. Their goods were valued throughout the Mediterranean. The economic life of Carthage was built as a rule on trade, agriculture and fishing. It was in those days that olive groves and orchards were planted along the banks of present-day Tunisia, and the plains were plowed up. Even the Romans marveled at the agrarian knowledge of the Carthaginians.

Hardworking and skillful inhabitants of Carthage dug artesian wells, built dams and stone water tanks, grew wheat, cultivated orchards and vineyards, erected multi-storey buildings, invented various mechanisms, observed the stars, wrote books...

Their glass was known throughout the ancient world, perhaps even more so than Venetian glass in the Middle Ages. The colorful purple fabrics of the Carthaginians, the secret of which was carefully concealed, were valued incredibly highly.

The cultural impact of the Phoenicians was also of great importance. They invented the alphabet - the same alphabet of 22 letters, which served as the basis for the writing of many peoples: for Greek writing, and for Latin, and for our writing.

Already 200 years after the city was founded, the Carthaginian state becomes prosperous and powerful. The Carthaginians founded trading posts in the Balearic Islands, they captured Corsica, and eventually began to take over Sardinia. By the 5th century BC. e. Carthage had already established itself as one of the largest empires in the Mediterranean. This empire covered a significant territory of the present Maghreb, had its possessions in Spain and Sicily; The fleet of Carthage through Gibraltar began to enter the Atlantic Ocean, reached England, Ireland and even the coast of Cameroon.

He had no equal in the entire Mediterranean. Polybius wrote that the Carthaginian galleys were built in such a way “that they could move in any direction with the greatest ease ... If the enemy, fiercely attacking, crowded such ships, they retreated without endangering themselves: after all, light ships are not afraid of the open sea. If the enemy persisted in the pursuit, the galleys turned around and, maneuvering in front of the formation of enemy ships or covering him from the flanks, again and again went to ram. Under the protection of such galleys, heavily loaded Carthaginian sailing ships could go to sea without fear.

Everything went well for the city. At that time, the influence of Greece, that constant enemy of Carthage, greatly decreased. The rulers of the city maintained their power through an alliance with the Etruscans: this alliance was a kind of shield that blocked the Greeks from reaching the trading oases of the Mediterranean. In the east, things also went well for Carthage, but in that era, Rome turned into a strong Mediterranean power.

It is known how the rivalry between Carthage and Rome ended. The sworn enemy of the famous city, Mark Porcius Cato, at the end of each of his speeches in the Roman Senate, no matter what was said, repeated: “But still I believe that!”.

Cato himself visited Carthage as part of the Roman embassy at the end of the 2nd century BC. e. Before him appeared a noisy, prosperous city. Large trade deals were concluded there, coins of different states settled in the chests of money changers, the mines regularly supplied silver, copper and lead, ships left the stocks.

Cato also visited the provinces, where he could see rich fields, lush vineyards, orchards and olive groves. The estates of the Carthaginian nobility were in no way inferior to the Roman ones, and sometimes surpassed them in luxury and splendor of decoration.

The senator returned to Rome in the most gloomy mood. Going on a journey, he hoped to see signs of the decline of Carthage - that eternal and sworn rival of Rome. For more than a century there has been a struggle between the two most powerful powers of the Mediterranean for the possession of colonies, convenient harbors, for dominance at sea.

This struggle went on with varying success, but the Romans were able to permanently oust the Carthaginians from Sicily and Andalusia. As a result of the African victories of Aemilian Scipio, Carthage paid Rome an indemnity of 10 thousand talents, gave away its entire fleet, war elephants and all Numidian lands. Such crushing defeats were supposed to bleed the state, but Carthage was reborn and strong, which means that it will once again pose a threat to Rome ...

So thought the senator, and only dreams of the coming revenge dispersed his gloomy thoughts.

For three years, the legions of Aemilian Scipio besieged Carthage, and no matter how desperately its inhabitants resisted, they could not block the path of the Roman army. The battle for the city continued for six days, and then it was taken by storm. For 10 days, Carthage was given to plunder, and then demolished from the face of the earth. Heavy Roman plows plowed what was left of its streets and squares.

Salt was thrown into the ground so that the Carthaginian fields and gardens would no longer bear fruit. The surviving inhabitants, 55 thousand people, were sold into slavery. According to legend, Aemilian Scipio, whose troops took Carthage by storm, wept, looking at how the capital of a powerful state was dying.

The winners took gold, silver, jewelry, ivory, carpets - everything that had accumulated over the centuries in temples, shrines, palaces and houses. Almost all books and chronicles perished in the fires. The Romans handed over the famous library of Carthage to their allies - the Numidian princes, and since that time it has disappeared without a trace. Only a treatise on agriculture by the Carthaginian Mago has survived.

But the greedy robbers who ravaged the city and razed it to the ground did not rest on this. It seemed to them that the Carthaginians, whose wealth was legendary, had hidden their jewels before the last fight. And for many more years, treasure hunters roamed the dead city.

24 years after the destruction of Carthage, the Romans began to build a new city in its place according to their own patterns - with wide streets and squares, with white-stone palaces, temples and public buildings. Everything that could somehow survive the defeat of Carthage was now used in the construction of a new city, which was already being revived in the Roman style.

In less than a few decades, Carthage, which had risen from the ashes, turned into the second city of the state in beauty and significance. All historians who described Carthage of the Roman period spoke of it as a city in which "luxury and pleasure reign."

But the Roman dominion did not last forever. By the middle of the 5th century, the city was under the rule of Byzantium, and a century and a half later, the first military detachments of the Arabs came here. By retaliatory strikes, the Byzantines again regained the city, but only for three years, and then it remained forever in the hands of the new conquerors.

The Berber tribes met the arrival of the Arabs calmly and did not interfere with the spread of Islam. Arab schools were opened in all cities and even small towns, literature, medicine, theology, astronomy, architecture, folk crafts began to develop ...

During the Arab rule, when the dynasties at war with each other changed very often, Carthage is relegated to the background. Destroyed once again, he could no longer rise, turning into a symbol of majestic immortality. People and ruthless time left nothing from the former greatness of Carthage - the city that ruled over half of the ancient world. Neither the German lighthouse, nor the stone from the fortress wall, nor the temple of the god Eshmun, on the steps of which the defenders of the great ancient city fought to the last.

Now on the site of the legendary city is a quiet suburb of Tunisia. A small peninsula cuts into the horseshoe-shaped harbor of the former military fort. Here you can see fragments of columns and blocks of yellow stone - all that remains of the palace of the admiral of the Carthaginian fleet. Historians believe that the palace was built so that the admiral could always see the ships he commanded. And only a pile of stones (presumably from the acropolis) and the foundation of the temple of the gods Tanit and Baal testify that Carthage was in fact a real place on earth. And if the wheel of history had turned differently, Carthage, instead of Rome, could have become the ruler of the ancient world.

Since the middle of the 20th century, excavations have been carried out there, and it turned out that not far from Birsa, under a layer of ash, a whole quarter of Carthage has been preserved. To this day, all our knowledge of the great city is mainly the testimony of its enemies. And therefore the evidence of Carthage itself is now becoming increasingly important. Tourists come here from all over the world to stand on this ancient land and feel its great past. Carthage is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and therefore it must be preserved ...

An interesting legend is connected with the founding of Carthage. At the end of the 9th century BC. e. Dido, the widow of the Phoenician king Sychae, fled Fez after her brother Pygmalion killed her husband. She decided to buy a piece of land from a local tribe for a precious stone. The right to choose a place remained with the queen, but she could only take as much land as the skin of a bull could cover. Dido decided on a trick and cut the skin into small belts. Having made a circle out of them, she managed to take possession of a fairly large piece of land. The tribe had to agree - a deal is a deal. In memory of this, the citadel of Byrsa, whose name means "skin", was founded. However, the exact year of the founding of Carthage is unknown, experts call it 825-823 BC. e., and 814−813 BC. e.

Dominions of Carthage in its heyday. (wikipedia.org)

The city had an incredibly advantageous location and had access to the sea in the south and north. Very quickly, Carthage became the leader of maritime trade in the Mediterranean. Two harbors were even specially dug in the city - for military and merchant ships.

The power of the city of Carthage

In the VIII century BC. e. the situation in the region changed - Phenicia was captured by the Assyrians, this caused a large influx of Phoenicians to Carthage. Soon the population of the city increased so much that Carthage itself was able to begin the colonization of the coast. At the turn of the 7th-6th centuries BC. e. Greek colonization began, and in order to resist it, the Phoenician states began to unite. The basis of the united state was the union of Carthage and Utica. Carthage gradually gained its power - the population increased, agriculture developed, trade flourished, Carthaginian merchants traded in Egypt, Italy, the Black and Red Seas, Carthage practically monopolized trade, obliging subjects to trade only through Carthaginian merchants.

Ships at the city walls. (wikipedia.org)

Power in Carthage was concentrated in the hands of the aristocracy. There were two warring parties: agrarian and commercial and industrial. The former advocated the expansion of possessions in Africa and were against expansion in other regions, which was advocated by the rest of the aristocrats, relying on the urban population. The highest authority was the council of elders, which was headed at first by 10, and later by 30 people. The heads of the executive power were two Suffets. Like the Roman consuls, they were elected annually and served as commanders-in-chief of the army and navy. Carthage had a senate of 300 senators elected for life, but real power was concentrated in the hands of a committee of 30 people. The popular assembly also played an important role, but in fact it was only called upon in case of conflict between the senate and the Suffets. The Council of Judges carried out proceedings against officials after the expiration of their term of office and was engaged in control and trial.

Thanks to its trading power, Carthage was wealthy and could afford a powerful army of mercenaries. The basis of the infantry was Spanish, Greek, Gallic, African mercenaries, while the aristocrats formed heavily armed cavalry - the "sacred detachment". The cavalry was formed from Numidians and Iberians. The army was distinguished by high technical equipment - catapults, ballistas, etc.

Carthage. (wikipedia.org)

The society of Carthage was also heterogeneous and was divided into several groups along ethnic lines. The Libyans were in the most difficult situation - they were heavily taxed, forcibly recruited into the army, political and administrative rights were also limited. Often, uprisings broke out in Libya. The Phoenicians were scattered throughout the Western Mediterranean, but all of them were united by common beliefs. The Carthaginians inherited the Canaanite religion from their ancestors, and the main deities in the state were Baal Hammon and the goddess Tanit, identified with the Greek Astratus. A notorious feature of their beliefs was the sacrifice of children. The Carthaginians believed that only the sacrifice of a child could pacify and appease Baal Hammon. According to legend, during one of the attacks of the city, residents sacrificed more than 200 children from noble families.

Victories of ancient Carthage

Already by the 3rd century BC. e. Carthage subjugated southern Spain, the coast of North Africa, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica. It was a powerful commercial and cultural center, which certainly prevented the strengthening of the Roman Empire in the Mediterranean. In the end, the situation became so aggravated that it inevitably led to war in 264 BC. e. The First Punic War was fought primarily in Sicily and at sea. The Romans captured Sicily and gradually moved the fighting to Africa, managing to win several victories. However, thanks to the command of the Spartan mercenary, the Punians were able to defeat the Romans. The war went on with varying success for each of the parties, until Rome, having gathered strength, defeated Carthage. The Phoenicians made peace, gave Sicily to the Romans and pledged to pay an indemnity in the next 10 years.

Battle of Zama. (wikipedia.org)

Carthage could not forgive the defeat, and Rome could not accept the fact that a powerful enemy was quickly recovering after the war. Carthage was looking for a new reason for war and the case turned up. Commander-in-Chief Hannibal in 218 BC. e. attacked the Spanish city of Sagunta, friendly to Rome. Rome declared war on Carthage. At first, the Punians were victorious and even managed to defeat the Romans at Cannae, which was a heavy defeat for the empire. However, Carthage soon lost the initiative and Rome went on the offensive. The last battle was the Battle of Zama. After that, Carthage sued for peace and lost all its possessions outside of Africa.

Defeat of Carthage in the struggle for Hegemony

Although Rome became the strongest state in the western Mediterranean, the war for hegemony in the region was not over. Carthage again managed to quickly recover and restore the status of one of the richest cities. Rome, which had suffered several military defeats during previous confrontations, was finally convinced that "Carthage must be destroyed" and began to look for a new reason for a third war. They became the military conflict of the Punians with the Numidian king, who constantly attacked and seized the Carthaginian possessions. When the Numidians were rebuffed, Rome brought an army to the walls of the city. The Carthaginians asked for peace, agreeing to all conceivable conditions. They gave up all their weapons, and only after that the Romans announced the main demand of the Senate - the destruction of the city, the eviction of all the inhabitants from it. Citizens could found a new city, but no closer than 10 miles from the coast. Thus, Carthage would not be able to revive its trading power. The Carthaginians asked for time to think over the conditions and began to prepare for war. The city was well fortified and courageously resisted the Romans for three years, but eventually fell in 146 BC. e. Of the 500,000 inhabitants, the Romans enslaved 50,000, the city was completely destroyed, its literature was almost completely burned, and a Roman province was created on the territory of Carthage with a governor from Utica.