Carthage Through the Ages

Question 1

what was the Magreb like at the start of the Bronze Age?

Answer 1

it was part of Northern Africa with desert conditions, starting to connect with the wider world through island hopping, with limited technology

Question 2

what evidence indicates early connections between the Magreb and Sicily?

Answer 2

archaeological evidence of stones brought from Sicily around Cape Bone

Question 3

who led the Phoenician expansion and why?

Answer 3

wealthy city-states like Tyre, under pressure from Assyrian demands, expanded as a trade network rather than through extensive colonisation

Question 4

what was unique about Carthage in the context of Phoenician expansion?

Answer 4

unlike other trading posts, Carthage was established as a colony, not just a trade connection

Question 5

what does the name Qārthadāšt mean, and when was Carthage founded?

Answer 5

Qārthadāšt means ‘new city’ in ancient Phoenician, founded in the 9th century BC.

Question 6

where were the earliest settlements in Carthage located?

Answer 6

on the slopes of Byrsa, the central citadel of Carthage (parallel to the Acropolis in Athens)

Question 7

describe the layout of Punic Carthage around the 5th-2nd century BC

Answer 7

Byrsa citadel at the heart, with a ‘Tophet’ religious zone and harbours to the southeast

Question 8

what was the estimated population of Carthage in the 2nd century BC?

Answer 8

between 50,000 and 300,000

Question 9

how did Carthage expand its connections and territory?

Answer 9

through gradual expansion into surrounding regions, significant influence in the western Mediterranean, and annexation of land in Sardinia

Question 10

what maintained Carthage’s cultural connections to the Levant?

Answer 10

particularly in religion, even as it expanded into the Magreb and other regions

Question 11

what do we know about the Carthaginian government structure?

Answer 11

it was a republic with power mainly in the hands of elites, featuring annually elected magistrates called ‘sufetes’ and a council known as ‘adirim.’

Question 12

how do Greek and Roman authors’ perspectives affect our understanding of Carthaginian politics?

Answer 12

they use Greek and Roman terms that may not accurately represent Carthaginian forms, often colored by their own biases

Question 13

what marked the end of Carthaginian dominance in the western Mediterranean?

Answer 13

the Punic Wars, particularly the loss in the Third Punic War and the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC

Question 14

what happened to Carthage after its destruction in 146 BC?

Answer 14

there was a population collapse and unsuccessful attempts at re-colonisation until the Augustan period

Question 15

how was Carthage re-founded in the Augustan period?

Answer 15

the Byrsa was leveled, a massive forum was constructed, and Carthage was symbolically rebuilt as a Roman city.

Question 16

what role does Virgil’s Aeneid play in the narrative of Carthage’s foundation?

Answer 16

it integrates Carthage into the myth of Aeneas’ travels, consolidating Augustus’ rule by rebuilding Carthage as Roman.

Question 17

what were the key features of Roman Carthage in the 2nd century AD?

Answer 17

it had a large forum, the third-largest basilica in the empire, the second-largest circus after Rome, and redesigned Punic harbours

Question 18

what economic boom did Carthage experience in the mid/late 2nd century AD?

Answer 18

the ‘African Boom,’ marked by massive exports of goods like ceramics, olive oil, and grain, making Carthage a vital hub for the Roman Empire.

Question 19

what was the ‘Tophet’ in Carthaginian religion?

Answer 19

a religious zone and burial ground for cremated children and animals, with votives to Baal Hammon and Tanit.

Question 20

how was the ‘Tophet’ re-evaluated in the 90s regarding its function in the Roman period?

Answer 20

it was concluded that the zone remained a monumentalised religious area rather than being converted to non-religious uses.

Question 21

what changes occurred in Carthage during the late Roman Empire?

Answer 21

it remained an economic hub, became significant in Christian religious developments, and faced debates over the nature of Christianity.

Question 22

what happened to Carthage and North Africa in late antiquity?

Answer 22

Vandals moved in during the mid-5th century, followed by Byzantine reconquest in AD 533, leading to probable population and trade decreases.

Question 23

how is the history of Carthage connected to the history of the Mediterranean and Roman Empire?

Answer 23

Carthage’s history reflects increasing Mediterranean connectivity, the rise of Rome, and the dynamics of Roman imperialism and transformation.

Question 24

what does Carthage’s role in late antiquity suggest about the continuation of historical narratives?

Answer 24

the arrival of the Vandals starts a new chapter while continuing themes of connectivity and transformation within the region.