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History of Carthage Timeline

(814 BC - 146 BC)

Carthage was an ancient Phoenician city-state located in modern-day Tunisia. Founded around 814 BC by settlers from Tyre, it grew into one of the most powerful commercial and military powers of the ancient Mediterranean, dominating trade across North Africa, Spain, and the western Mediterranean. Carthage fought three major wars against Rome (the Punic Wars), producing legendary generals like Hannibal Barca, before being destroyed by Roman forces in 146 BC at the end of the Third Punic War. Less

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Phoenician Origins

Appian dates Carthage's founding 50 years before the Trojan War

1234 BC

The Roman historian Appian dated the founding of Carthage to 50 years prior to the Trojan War, between 1244 and 1234 BC according to the chronology of Eratosthenes.

Image source: Appian

Appian dates Carthage's founding 50 years before the Trojan War

Philistos dates an early founding of Carthage to c. 1215 BC

1215 BC

There is a tradition in some ancient sources, such as Philistos of Syracuse, for an 'early' foundation date of around 1215 BC, that is before the fall of Troy in 1180 BC.

Phoenicians develop their trade monopoly with little resistance

1100 BC - 900 BC

The Phoenicians encountered little resistance in developing their trade monopoly during 1100–900 BC, establishing commercial networks across the Mediterranean.

Image source: Phoenicia

Phoenicians develop their trade monopoly with little resistance

Semitic civilizations flourish on the eastern Mediterranean shore

1000 BC

In the 10th century BC, the eastern Mediterranean shore was inhabited by various Semitic populations, who had built up flourishing civilizations, laying the groundwork for Phoenician expansion westward.

Image source: History of Carthage

Semitic civilizations flourish on the eastern Mediterranean shore

Fleets of King Hiram of Tyre sail the Mediterranean

1000 BC

The fleets of King Hiram of Tyre, as recounted in the Bible and perhaps joined at times by ships assigned to Solomon, would date to the 10th century BC, reflecting Tyrian naval power.

Image source: Hiram I

Fleets of King Hiram of Tyre sail the Mediterranean

Carthage founded by Phoenician settlers from Tyre

900 BC

The city of Carthage was founded in the 9th century BC on the coast of Northwest Africa, in what is now Tunisia, as one of a number of Phoenician settlements created to facilitate trade from the city of Tyre on the coast of what is now Lebanon.

Image source: Carthage

Carthage founded by Phoenician settlers from Tyre

Legend of Queen Elissa (Dido) founding Carthage in 814 BC

814 BC

Legends alive in the city for centuries assigned its foundation in 814 BC to a queen of Tyre, Elissa, also called Dido ('beloved').

Image source: Dido

Legend of Queen Elissa (Dido) founding Carthage in 814 BC

Ezekiel praises the Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon

600 BC

The 6th century Hebrew prophet Ezekiel, in a lamentation, nonetheless sings the praises of the Phoenicians, specifically of the cities of Tyre and Sidon.

Image source: Ezekiel

Ezekiel praises the Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon

Punic Rise and Expansion

Close ties with Tyre maintained through annual tribute

800 BC

Despite growing independence, close ties with Tyre still remained, and Carthage continued to send annual tribute to Tyre for the temple of Melqart at irregular intervals over the centuries.

Greek colonies spread across southern Italy and Sicily

750 BC

Over the next century, hundreds of Greek colonies sprang up along the Southern Italian and Sicilian coastlines, except Western Sicily, creating rivalry with Punic interests.

Image source: Magna Graecia

Greek colonies spread across southern Italy and Sicily

Emergence of a distinct 'Punic' culture

700 BC

The culture of Phoenician colonies had gained a distinct 'Punic' character by the end of the 7th century BC, indicating the emergence of a distinct culture in the Western Mediterranean.

Image source: Punic people

Emergence of a distinct 'Punic' culture

Carthage becomes a leading commercial centre of the West Mediterranean

700 BC

By the end of the 7th century BC, Carthage was becoming one of the leading commercial centres of the West Mediterranean region, a position it retained until overthrown by the Roman Republic.

Expansion of Carthaginian commercial networks

600 BC - 300 BC

During these centuries Carthage enlarged its commercial sphere along the African coast, in southern Iberia, and among the western Mediterranean islands, venturing south into Saharan trade and exploring Atlantic commercial opportunities.

Utica opts for alliance rather than leadership

600 BC

The city of Utica was far older than Carthage and enjoyed the same geographical and political advantages, but it opted to be an allied entity rather than leader of the Punic hegemony.

Image source: Utica, Tunisia

Utica opts for alliance rather than leadership

Carthage likely without an empire before the 6th century BC

600 BC

It is likely that Carthage did not have an empire prior to the 6th century BC; small battles had been fought between settlements for centuries beforehand.

Carthage grows into a fully independent thalassocracy

550 BC

By the middle of the 6th century BC, Carthage had grown into a fully independent thalassocracy, dominating the seas of the western Mediterranean.

Image source: Thalassocracy

Carthage grows into a fully independent thalassocracy

Formation of the Punic hegemony around the 6th century BC

550 BC

A Punic hegemony came into being probably sometime around the 6th century BC, with Carthage at its head.

Image source: Ancient Carthage

Formation of the Punic hegemony around the 6th century BC

Mago recruits mercenaries from subject peoples

550 BC

Mago, the 6th century ruler of Carthage, initiated the practice of recruiting the army from subject peoples and mercenaries, since Carthage's population was too small to defend so widely scattered an empire. Libyans, Iberians, Sardinians, and Corsicans were soon enlisted.

Carthaginian conquest of old Phoenician colonies

550 BC

By the end of the 6th century BC, Carthage had conquered most of the old Phoenician colonies in the western Mediterranean.

Punic-Etruscan treaty grants Carthage a monopoly in southern Iberia

500 BC

A 6th century Punic-Etruscan treaty reserved for Carthage a commercial monopoly in southern Iberia.

Carthage settles for indemnity after victory

400 BC

Carthage did not follow up one victory but settled for an indemnity payment of 1000 talents and restoration of Carthaginian holdings in Sicily.

Peace with the Greeks and payment of a large indemnity

300 BC

Carthage made peace with the Greeks and paid a large indemnity of 2000 silver talents, but lost no territory in Sicily.

Image source: Sicilian Wars

Peace with the Greeks and payment of a large indemnity

Roman Carthage

Three Punic Wars determine the course of Western civilization

264 BC - 146 BC

Over the course of the next century, three major conflicts between Rome and Carthage—the Punic Wars—would determine the course of Western civilization.

Image source: Punic Wars

Three Punic Wars determine the course of Western civilization

New Roman city of Carthage built on the same land

1 AD

A new city of Carthage was built on the same land, and by the 1st century AD it had grown to the second largest city in the western half of the Roman Empire, with a peak population of 500,000.

Province experiences a centuries-long renaissance

100 AD - 400 AD

The entire province, Berber and Punic with a large Latin and multinational influx, then experienced a centuries-long renaissance under Roman rule.

Image source: Africa (Roman province)

Province experiences a centuries-long renaissance

Byzantine and Arab Periods

Failed Byzantine attempt to recapture Carthage in the 5th century

450 AD

After a failed attempt to recapture the city in the 5th century, the Byzantines finally subdued the Vandals in the 6th century.

Image source: Vandal Kingdom

Failed Byzantine attempt to recapture Carthage in the 5th century

Exarch Heraclius overthrows Emperor Phocas

609 AD

In the early 7th century, it was the Exarch of Carthage Heraclius who overthrew Emperor Phocas, rising to become Byzantine emperor.

Image source: Heraclius

Exarch Heraclius overthrows Emperor Phocas

Arab conquerors overwhelm the Byzantine Exarchate

698 AD

The Byzantine Exarchate was not able to withstand the Arab conquerors of the 7th century. Roman Carthage was destroyed—its walls torn down, its water supply cut off, and its harbours made unusable—following its conquest at the close of the century.

Image source: Exarchate of Africa

Arab conquerors overwhelm the Byzantine Exarchate

Modern Carthage

Carthage grows into an upscale coastal suburb

1950 AD

Carthage was little more than an agricultural village for nine hundred years until the middle of the 20th century; since then it has grown rapidly as an upscale coastal suburb, with a population of 15,922 in 2004 and an estimated 21,276 in January 2013.

Rome and Carthage sign symbolic treaty ending ancient conflict

Feb 1985

In February 1985, Ugo Vetere, mayor of Rome, and Chedly Klibi, mayor of Carthage, signed a symbolic treaty 'officially' ending the conflict between their cities, extended for more than 2,100 years by the lack of a peace treaty.

Key Facts

  1. Carthage was founded around 814 BC by Phoenician colonists from the city of Tyre, traditionally led by the legendary Queen Dido (Elissa).
  2. The city became a dominant maritime and trading power in the western Mediterranean, controlling key ports in North Africa, Sicily, Sardinia, and Spain.
  3. The Punic Wars between Carthage and Rome (264–146 BC) defined its final centuries, including Hannibal's famous crossing of the Alps with war elephants during the Second Punic War.
  4. Carthage was a republic governed by elected magistrates called suffetes and a senate, with a sophisticated constitution admired even by Aristotle.
  5. In 146 BC, after a three-year siege, Rome completely destroyed Carthage at the end of the Third Punic War; Julius Caesar later refounded the site as a Roman colony.

Source

This History of Carthage timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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