Mary Spivak, age 16, of Pocatello, Ida., for her question:
WHERE WAS CARTHAGE?
Carthage was one of the greatest cities of ancient times. It stood on a peninsula in North Africa near the present location of Tunis, Tunisia.
Founded by Phoenician seamen as a trading and shipping outpost in the western Mediterranean area, the colony quickly became an important and wealthy center of activity.
Archaeologists who have searched the ruins of ancient Carthage have been able to find remains that date back to about 750 B.C. Some historians say the seaport city may have been founded as early as about 800 B.C.
The Phoenician name for Carthage is Kart hadasht which means New Capital or New City.
Two excellent barbors helped to bring prosperity to Carthage. One harbor, inside the city walls, was large enough to shelter hundreds of military vessels.
The city was well protected. A 40 foot high wall that was 30 feet wide stretched across the peninsula. A second wall enclosed the Byrsa, or inner fortress.
Historians tell us that Carthage was probably the first city state to control an empire. Much of western North Africa, southern Spain, Sardinia, Corsica and the western half of Sicily all came under Carthage's rule.
Although the Carthaginians were more interested in trade than in conquest, they did use military power when the leaders felt that it was necessary.
Other Phoenician cities were weakened by the repeated attacks of the Assyrians and Babylonians, or Chaldeans. Carthage, therefore, became independent without a struggle after about 600 B.C. It became the leader of the western Phoenician territories.
Leadership brought new responsibilities and Carthage often fought with Greek forces on Sicily. The ancient city then went through a long period of isolation and decline.
After besieging Carthage for two years, Roman troops finally destroyed the city in 146 B.C.
As Carthage was going through its long period of isolation, the government system changed from a one man rule to an oligarchy, or rule by a few. There was an assembly of citizens, but the real power lay with the sufets or magistrates, the generals and a council of nobles.
Carthage expanded in Sicily in about 410 B.C. and at times ruled much of Sicily. After 265 B.C., the Romans also wanted Sicily. Carthage fought and lost three wars called the Punic Wars with Rome, from 264 to 241, from 218 to 201 and from 149 to 146 B.C.
The genius of Hannibal, a Carthaginian general, nearly won the second war for Carthage. But Carthage was destroyed in the third war.
Carthage later became an important city in the Roman Empire. St. Augustine was one of its famous inhabitants.
Carthage was overrun by the Vandals around A.D. 430 and the final destruction of Carthage came at the hands of the Arabs in A.D. 698.