IIIᵉ siècle av. J.-C. – IIᵉ siècle av. J.-C.
North-West Africa and the western Mediterranean
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The fall of Carthage encompassed the First and Second Punic Wars and the progressive destruction of Carthaginian power by Rome. Carthage lost Sicily after the war of 264–241 BC, suffered further territorial and military restrictions after defeat in 202 BC, and was ultimately destroyed in 146 BC. The process transformed Rome into the dominant power of the western Mediterranean and ended Carthage’s independent political existence.
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Le récit
By the early third century BC, Carthage remained a powerful Phoenician state in North-West Africa despite prolonged warfare with the Greek cities of Sicily. Rivalry with Rome intensified after Rome consolidated control over southern Italy, especially following the capture of Tarentum in 272 BC. In 264 BC, competition for the strategic Sicilian city of Messana brought the two powers into open conflict.
The First Punic War lasted from 264 to 241 BC and centered on control of Sicily. Rome secured Messana, gained Syracuse as an ally in 263 BC, and captured Akragas in 262 BC. Roman naval construction then challenged Carthaginian maritime superiority, while a victory in 256 BC enabled Regulus to invade North-West Africa, occupy Tunis, and threaten Carthage itself.
The Carthaginians defeated Regulus in 255 BC, but continued to lose ground in Sicily. Rome captured Panormus in 250 BC, while Hamilcar Barca defended Lilybaeum after 247 BC. A final Roman naval victory in 242 BC forced Carthage to evacuate Sicily and accept a large indemnity under the peace of 241 BC.
The peace produced a severe crisis in Africa. Carthage attempted to disband its mercenary army without settling its arrears, prompting a mutiny at Sicca under Mathos and Spendios. The rebellion spread among Libyan subjects burdened by wartime taxation, while Numidian forces joined the revolt and besieged Hippo and Utica. Hanno and Hamilcar Barca eventually crushed the uprising by 237 BC, aided by the defection of the Numidian chief Naravas.
Carthage nevertheless lost Sardinia when mutinous troops appealed to Rome and Roman forces annexed the island in 238 BC. Hamilcar Barca then gained political dominance and sought to rebuild Carthaginian power in Spain. Campaigning from 237 BC until his death in 229 BC, he was followed by Hasdrubal and then Hannibal, who expanded inland control, secured Spanish manpower and silver mines, and developed New Carthage as the capital of the Spanish possessions.
Conflict resumed when Hannibal attacked Saguntum in 218 BC. He crossed southern France and the Alps, invaded Italy, and achieved a major victory at Cannae in 216 BC. Rome ultimately recovered: Hasdrubal was defeated at the Metaurus in 207 BC, Scipio captured New Carthage in 209 BC and Gades in 206 BC, and Carthaginian power in Spain collapsed.
The final phase was decided in North Africa. Syphax, ruler of the Masaesylii, fought Carthage from 215 BC and later allied with it, but Scipio secured the support of Masinissa, defeated the Carthaginians in 203 BC, and captured Syphax. Hannibal returned from Italy for the final confrontation at Naraggara near Zama in 202 BC, where his army was decisively defeated, principally because of its weakness in cavalry.
The peace of 201 BC reduced Carthage to a Roman dependency. It surrendered its claims in Spain, lost extensive African territories, gave up its war-elephants, restricted its fleet to ten ships, and could no longer wage war without Roman permission. A fifty-year indemnity compounded the political and financial crisis, while Roman pressure forced Hannibal from command in 200 BC.
The excerpt’s narrative ends before completing the later political consequences of Hannibal’s reforms. The stated chronological title, however, identifies the fall of Carthage as extending to 146 BC, the date associated with the final destruction of the city, while the detailed passage here concentrates mainly on the wars and settlements that preceded it.
IIIᵉ siècle av. J.-C. – IIᵉ siècle av. J.-C.
North-West Africa and the western Mediterranean
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The fall of Carthage encompassed the First and Second Punic Wars and the progressive destruction of Carthaginian power by Rome. Carthage lost Sicily after the war of 264–241 BC, suffered further territorial and military restrictions after defeat in 202 BC, and was ultimately destroyed in 146 BC. The process transformed Rome into the dominant power of the western Mediterranean and ended Carthage’s independent political existence.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
By the early third century BC, Carthage remained a powerful Phoenician state in North-West Africa despite prolonged warfare with the Greek cities of Sicily. Rivalry with Rome intensified after Rome consolidated control over southern Italy, especially following the capture of Tarentum in 272 BC. In 264 BC, competition for the strategic Sicilian city of Messana brought the two powers into open conflict.
The First Punic War lasted from 264 to 241 BC and centered on control of Sicily. Rome secured Messana, gained Syracuse as an ally in 263 BC, and captured Akragas in 262 BC. Roman naval construction then challenged Carthaginian maritime superiority, while a victory in 256 BC enabled Regulus to invade North-West Africa, occupy Tunis, and threaten Carthage itself.
The Carthaginians defeated Regulus in 255 BC, but continued to lose ground in Sicily. Rome captured Panormus in 250 BC, while Hamilcar Barca defended Lilybaeum after 247 BC. A final Roman naval victory in 242 BC forced Carthage to evacuate Sicily and accept a large indemnity under the peace of 241 BC.
The peace produced a severe crisis in Africa. Carthage attempted to disband its mercenary army without settling its arrears, prompting a mutiny at Sicca under Mathos and Spendios. The rebellion spread among Libyan subjects burdened by wartime taxation, while Numidian forces joined the revolt and besieged Hippo and Utica. Hanno and Hamilcar Barca eventually crushed the uprising by 237 BC, aided by the defection of the Numidian chief Naravas.
Carthage nevertheless lost Sardinia when mutinous troops appealed to Rome and Roman forces annexed the island in 238 BC. Hamilcar Barca then gained political dominance and sought to rebuild Carthaginian power in Spain. Campaigning from 237 BC until his death in 229 BC, he was followed by Hasdrubal and then Hannibal, who expanded inland control, secured Spanish manpower and silver mines, and developed New Carthage as the capital of the Spanish possessions.
Conflict resumed when Hannibal attacked Saguntum in 218 BC. He crossed southern France and the Alps, invaded Italy, and achieved a major victory at Cannae in 216 BC. Rome ultimately recovered: Hasdrubal was defeated at the Metaurus in 207 BC, Scipio captured New Carthage in 209 BC and Gades in 206 BC, and Carthaginian power in Spain collapsed.
The final phase was decided in North Africa. Syphax, ruler of the Masaesylii, fought Carthage from 215 BC and later allied with it, but Scipio secured the support of Masinissa, defeated the Carthaginians in 203 BC, and captured Syphax. Hannibal returned from Italy for the final confrontation at Naraggara near Zama in 202 BC, where his army was decisively defeated, principally because of its weakness in cavalry.
The peace of 201 BC reduced Carthage to a Roman dependency. It surrendered its claims in Spain, lost extensive African territories, gave up its war-elephants, restricted its fleet to ten ships, and could no longer wage war without Roman permission. A fifty-year indemnity compounded the political and financial crisis, while Roman pressure forced Hannibal from command in 200 BC.
The excerpt’s narrative ends before completing the later political consequences of Hannibal’s reforms. The stated chronological title, however, identifies the fall of Carthage as extending to 146 BC, the date associated with the final destruction of the city, while the detailed passage here concentrates mainly on the wars and settlements that preceded it.
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