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'''Carthage''' was an ancient city on the coast of northern [[Africa]] near modern day [[Tunis]], in [[Tunisia]]. It began as a colony of the [[Phoenicians]] and eventually became a great naval power that exerted influence across the [[Mediterranean Sea]].

'''Carthage''' was an ancient city on the northern coast of [[Africa]], near modern day [[Tunis]] in [[Tunisia]]. Originally a [[Phoenicians|Phoenician]] colony, it grew to be a great naval power that exerted influence across the [[Mediterranean Sea]].

==Roman Domination==

==Roman domination==

The emerging power of [[Rome]] brought the two into conflict starting in [[Sicily]] in the middle of the 3rd century B.C.  Carthage was eventually destroyed by Rome after the course of three wars, the [[Punic Wars]] which were monumental for their time period.  Carthage was an independent power, until its lands were taken by Rome following the [[Third Punic War]]. During its time as a Roman principality, it developed a thriving Christian community.  [[St. Augustine]] of [[Hippo]] hailed from what was once Carthaginian land, as did the [[Donatist|Donatists]], a Christian sect which Augustine succeeded in branding as heretical.

The emerging power of [[Rome]] led to inevitable conflict, and they first clashed in [[Sicily]] in the middle of the 3rd century B.C.  Carthage and Rome went on to fight the three monumental [[Punic Wars]], until Carthage was destroyed, and its lands seized, following the [[Third Punic War]]. During its time as a Roman principality, Carthage developed a thriving Christian community.  [[St. Augustine]] of [[Hippo]] hailed from what was once Carthaginian land, as did the [[Donatist|Donatists]], a Christian sect which Augustine succeeded in branding as heretical.

Carthage stayed in Roman hands until the fall of the western Empire. By 500 A.D., the [[Visigoths]] controlled the former Carthaginian lands. The [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine Emperor]]<ref>The Byzantine Empire is also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire.</ref> [[Justinian]] invaded Africa fifty years later, in an attempt to reconquer all of the lands lost when the Western Roman Empire fell. His general [[Belisarius]] liberated the lands that been Carthage in the ancient equivalent of a [[blitzkrieg]]<ref>Belisarius is said to have exclaimed that the Visigoths' meals were still on the table by the time Roman arms controlled the city again, so quickly had the barbarians fled.</ref>, and integrated the territory into Byzantium.

This tenure proved brief. While Belisarius' armies went on to fight - and eventually win - a [[Pyrrhic victory]] in Italy, the resulting loss of life, decimation of the Italian peninsula, and loss of Byzantine treasury, left the empire an easy target for the [[Islam|Islamic]] armies which would emerge a century later.  After the initial onslaught of Mohammed's armies, Carthaginian lands fell from Roman hands for the rest of history.

Carthage stayed in Roman hands until the fall of the Empire.  By 500 A.D., with the fall of the western Empire, Carthaginian lands passed to the [[Visigoths]]. Under [[Justinian]] the [[Byzantine Empire]] (also called the Eastern Roman Empire) in an effort to reconquer all of the lands lost when the Western Roman Empire fell, invaded Africa a mere 50 years later.  Justinian's general [[Belisarius]] liberated the lands that been Carthage in the ancient equivalent of a [[blitzkrieg]]<ref>Belisarius is said to have exclaimed that the Visigoth's meals were still on the table by the time Roman arms controlled the city again, so quickly had the barbarians fled.</ref>, and integrated the territory into Byzantium.

This tenure proved brief indeed.  While Belisarius' armies went on to fight - and eventually win - a [[Pyrrhic victory]] in Italy, the resulting loss of life, decimation of the Italian peninsula, and loss of Byzantine treasury, left the empire an easy target for the [[Islam|Islamic]] armies which would emerge in just 100 years.  After the initial onslaught of Mohammed's armies, Carthaginian lands fell from Roman hands for the rest of history.

==Notes and references==

[[Category:Ancient History]]

[[Category:Ancient History]]

[[Category:African Cities and Towns]]

[[Category:African Cities and Towns]]