Difference between revisions of "Carthage"
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| − | '''Carthage''' was an ancient city on the coast of | + | '''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 | + | ==Roman domination== |
| − | The emerging power of [[Rome]] | + | 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. |
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| + | ==After Rome== | ||
| + | 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. | |
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| − | + | ==Notes and references== | |
| + | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Ancient History]] | [[Category:Ancient History]] | ||
[[Category:African Cities and Towns]] | [[Category:African Cities and Towns]] | ||
Revision as of 21:54, April 7, 2008
Carthage was an ancient city on the northern coast of Africa, near modern day Tunis in Tunisia. Originally a Phoenician colony, it grew to be a great naval power that exerted influence across the Mediterranean Sea.
Roman domination
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 Donatists, a Christian sect which Augustine succeeded in branding as heretical.
After Rome
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 Emperor[1] 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[2], 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 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.