"Carthage's last sunset"
Watercolor on paper, 30 Aug. 2008
Carthage has been one the most interesting empires of
all times. Founded by the Phoenicians in 814 BC., Carthage dominated the
Mediterranean for more than six centuries until its demise in 146 BC. The
Carthaginians were the best civil engineers, sailors and warriors of their
time. Their home town was a wonder of modernities such as fresh water supply in
the entire city, an efficient sewage system and a secure port able to harbor
hundreds of ships.
Why Carthage did not become the builder of
western civilization, as Rome was? It was certainly strong and rich, but it
lacked a sound political organization, and had no values to transmit. Carthage had
inherited an oriental-type dynasty system that could not prevail over the much
stronger Rome's republican organization, its legal system and its democratic
representation.
After being allies against Greece, Carthage
defied Rome's rising power more for a hurt sense of pride and fear of losing its commercial
hegemony than for real danger. After a long siege, the Romans finally broke into
the city, tearing down every building and selling the survivors as slaves.
Carthage would be from then on another province of the Roman Empire.
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