XIᵉ siècle av. J.-C. – VIIᵉ siècle
Northern Tunisia, North Africa
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Utica was a Phoenician city in North Africa that abandoned Carthage during the Roman intervention of 149 BC. Its defection enabled it to survive the destruction of Carthage, and it later became the capital of the Roman province of Africa. The city also represents the persistence of Phoenician language, institutions, and religion after Carthage’s fall.
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Utica was among the earliest Phoenician establishments on the North African coast. Its position in northern Tunisia made it useful as a stopping place along the coastal route from Phoenicia toward Gades and the trading world of Tartessos. Unlike later territorial states, the early Phoenician settlements were primarily commercial stations designed to support maritime exchange.
Ancient writers placed the foundation of Utica around 1100 BC, shortly after the establishment of Gades. Archaeological excavation has not confirmed such an early date: the excavated remains yielded nothing earlier than the eighth century BC. The passage treats this evidence cautiously but notes that the absence of earlier material is consistent across several western Phoenician sites.
Utica lay north of Carthage and became part of the wider network of Phoenician settlements that connected the North African coast with Spain, Sardinia, Sicily, and Malta. Its early role was therefore maritime and logistical, even though the later political relationship between Utica and Carthage is not detailed in this excerpt.
XIᵉ siècle av. J.-C. – VIIᵉ siècle
Northern Tunisia, North Africa
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Utica was a Phoenician city in North Africa that abandoned Carthage during the Roman intervention of 149 BC. Its defection enabled it to survive the destruction of Carthage, and it later became the capital of the Roman province of Africa. The city also represents the persistence of Phoenician language, institutions, and religion after Carthage’s fall.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
Utica was among the earliest Phoenician establishments on the North African coast. Its position in northern Tunisia made it useful as a stopping place along the coastal route from Phoenicia toward Gades and the trading world of Tartessos. Unlike later territorial states, the early Phoenician settlements were primarily commercial stations designed to support maritime exchange.
Ancient writers placed the foundation of Utica around 1100 BC, shortly after the establishment of Gades. Archaeological excavation has not confirmed such an early date: the excavated remains yielded nothing earlier than the eighth century BC. The passage treats this evidence cautiously but notes that the absence of earlier material is consistent across several western Phoenician sites.
Utica lay north of Carthage and became part of the wider network of Phoenician settlements that connected the North African coast with Spain, Sardinia, Sicily, and Malta. Its early role was therefore maritime and logistical, even though the later political relationship between Utica and Carthage is not detailed in this excerpt.