The Influence Of Carthage

Carthage was the ancient Phoenician city-state situated in present day Tunisia on the African continent. She had her influence extending over much of the present day coast of North Africa as well encompassing some parts of present day Spain and the islands of the western Mediterranean Sea (Morey, 1901). Initially Carthage was a colony of Tyre and she got her independence at around 650 BC (Morey, 1901). Just like Carthage, Rome was a super power of her time. She grew out of the Roman republic and through conquests and negotiations, she become an empire. Economically, Carthage derived her power by her position in the Mediterranean Sea. She was situated the center of the region. As stated by Morey, “She had grown wealthy and strong by buying and selling the products of the East to the West and vice …show more content…
These included the Patricians who were the original three tribes that had settled on the Roman hills and belonged to the aristocracy and the Plebeians who were the other people from other cities who had been conquered and brought to the city or alternatively people who had escaped from other cities and found refuge in Rome (Morey (1901)). Initially, these two social classes never intermingled but as time went by, Rome made laws to incorporate all residents in citizens which created social stability in the city state. Just like Rome, Carthage too had two social classes among her residents and this setting never changed until her demise. This meant that Carthage was prone to riots since some members of society never had no rights or had limited rights. In conclusion, these two great city states had some similarities, but were generally different in many ways. They were nearly equal in strength and resources, but Carthage had greater wealth, and Rome had better organization. Carthage had more brilliant military leaders such as Hannibal, but Rome had loyalty of her citizens because of laws they had. All in all Rome was better than Carthage that is why Rome won the Punic