In the first two, the city suffered some degree of failure. The rivalry between Carthage and Rome eventually erupted in the three Punic Wars, fought on land and sea.Ĭarthage did not fare well in the Punic Wars.
It was full of extremely wealthy people and boasted a harbor containing over 200 docks.Īs ancient Rome, which was Carthage’s neighbor in the Mediterranean, grew in power and expanded, a conflict between the two civilizations became inevitable. It eventually became the richest city in the entire Mediterranean region.
Its name means “new city” or “new town.” Before the rise of ancient Rome, Carthage was the most powerful city in the region because of its proximity to trade routes and its impressive harbor on the Mediterranean.Īt the height of its power, Carthage was the center of the Phoenician trade network. Carthage was an ancient Phoenician city located on the northern coast of Africa.