The Carthaginian Legacy - The City of Carthage and Its Most Notable Leader, Hannibal

The Carthaginians were a group of Phoenician colonists from the Mediterranean coast. A prosperous people with a booming economy, they were, in part, heirs of the Phoenician manner of trading - and thus, also at odds with the ancient Greek’s rivals - most notably the Roman Republic. 

Probably the most significant Carthaginian in history is their general and statesman, Hannibal, as he commanded the city’s forces in their wars against the Romans in the course of the Second Punic War. The legends of Hannibal’s military prowess have endured the test of time, and he is now broadly considered to be one of the most celebrated military commanders of all time.

The History of Carthage

Carthage was one of a number of Phoenician settlements and was originally founded in the 9th century BC in what is now known as Tunisia, on the Northwest coast of Africa.

Meaning ‘new town’ in the Phoenician language, Carthage was originally constructed to facilitate commerce from Tyre, a city on the coast of modern Lebanon.

The Phoenicians chose Carthage’s location with care - factoring in the fact that it was close to major trade routes, shielded from the frequent Mediterranean storms, and easily defensible. Furthermore, the fact that it was built on a high point of land meant that it was well placed to exert control over the ships that passed between the northern coast of Africa and Sicily.

According to legend, Carthage was founded by Queen Dido - also known by her Phoenician name, Elissa. Dido is perhaps best known as a character in Virgil’s Aeneid, in which she endeavours to seduce Aeneas, the mythical hero of Troy and son of Aphrodite and Anchises, as he attempted to flee from Troy’s ruination. As far as the legends go, Aeneas’ spurning of Dido was the starting point of Carthage’s subsequent wars with Rome. 

Although Carthage was to become a renowned empire throughout the Mediterranean, it is unknown when exactly it became so. Nothing defined the city from other Phoenician territories during 800-700 BC, but towards the end of the 7th century, Carthage became one of the more prominent ports and trading centres of the western Mediterranean, and its empire included the majority of the western mediterranean sea. 

Ancient reports claimed that Carthage was, at one point, the wealthiest city in the world due to its easy access to trade and commerce. However, very few of these riches are still in existence, partly because the city’s wealth consisted of impermanent materials such as textiles, foodstuffs, enslaved people, and unformed metals. Yet their wealth at the time was undeniable. 

Despite the legends around Dido, Carthage’s rising influence compounded its rivalry with Rome and led to a period of discord known as the Punic Wars. These wars continued between the years 264-146 BC, but Rome eventually emerged triumphant. Although a Roman Carthage was established upon the original Carthage, it was demolished after it was invaded by Arab leaders at the end of the 7th century; the city’s walls were knocked, the harbours were made futile, and its water supply cut off. In time, Carthage was replaced by Tunis, which has since expanded to include the ruins of the ancient city as one of its suburbs. 

Who was Hannibal?

Hannibal was born in 247 BC to the Carthaginian general, Hamilcar Barca - one of the commanding forces in the First Punic War. Although there are few remaining records of his life, what we do know comes from the Roman historian, Livy, and the Greek historian Polybius. According to their records, Hannibal's father made him swear perpetual hostility to Rome at a young age - which undoubtedly guided his later path in life, as his adult years consisted of an almost unceasing conflict against the Roman Republic.

One of the reasons why Hannibal is recognised as one of the greatest military minds in history lies in the fact that he was able to determine his opponents’ strengths and weaknesses, as well as balance his own against them.

Using this information to his advantage, he sparked the Second Punic War in 218 BC when he attacked one of Rome’s allies - Saguntim, or modern-day Sagunto, Spain. Invading Italy by crossing through the Alps on elephants, he strategised, conquered, and allied with a number of Rome’s affiliates. Due to this success, Hannibal inhabited much of southern Italy for approximately fifteen years.

Instead of choosing to go head to head in combat with Hannibal, the Roman general Fabius Maximus instead attempted to reduce the Carthaginian military’s numbers bit by bit. Thus, after some defeats in Hispania, Hannibal was unable to receive reinforcement, and his forces were inadequate in comparison to Rome’s more formidable armys. However, the Second Punic War didn’t end until the Battle of Zama (now in Tunisia), in which a Roman army led by General Scipio Africanus defeated the Carthaginians and forced Hannibal to return to Carthage.

After his defeat at the Battle of Zama, Hannibal retained hope that he would someday defeat the Romans again. However, he was infuriated by the treaty between Rome and Carthage that was drafted after his defeat.

According to Livy’s reports, Hannibal was eventually forced to flee Carthage due to accusations from his adversaries. Although he persisted in his resistance against the Romans, the republic’s power was too influential. After a betrayal in Libyssa, Hannibal recognised that he was unable to escape surrender to the Romans and poisoned himself in a final act of resistance in roughly 183 BC.

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