What was Carthage?
Carthage was a North African city-state that became a major political and commercial power in the western Mediterranean.
Historical context and developments
Founded through Phoenician connections, it grew through trade, agriculture and regional relationships. Rivalry with Rome intensified in the Punic Wars. Focusing only on Hannibal ignores its institutions and African ties.
Consequences and interpreting sources
Rome destroyed the city in 146 BCE; the later Roman settlement has a different history. Many surviving narratives came from rivals, making archaeology and inscriptions important checks on bias.
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