Carthagian Empire: Hannibal, Elephants, and Rome's Fiercest Rival

Carthage emerged as one of the most powerful cities of the ancient world, a beacon of wealth, trade, and military strength. Located on the coast of modern-day Tunisia, it was founded by Phoenician settlers from the city of Tyre around the ninth century BCE. These settlers, skilled in navigation and commerce, established Carthage as a strategic hub that would eventually dominate Mediterranean trade.

From its earliest days, Carthage thrived on its ability to control maritime routes and forge strong economic connections across North Africa, Iberia, and the islands of the western Mediterranean. Unlike many other ancient powers that relied on agriculture and territorial conquest, Carthage built its strength through commerce. It became the heart of a vast trade network that stretched from the shores of the Middle East to the Atlantic coast of Africa, exchanging goods such as silver, tin, spices, and textiles.

The city itself reflected its growing influence. Carthaginian engineers designed an impressive harbor that could shelter hundreds of ships, a crucial asset for a state whose power depended on naval supremacy. This naval dominance allowed Carthage to project its influence far beyond its immediate borders, securing colonies and trading posts in places such as Sicily.