Carthage
Long Term Influence of the Carthaginian Empire
It appears that the decisive stage in the growth of Carthage as a force in
the western Mediterranean took place in the 6th century. It was during this time
that the Phoenician homeland fell under Babylonian rule. Tyre itself suffered
under a prolonged siege and eventually came under Persian rule. Greek
settlements in Sicily attempted to destroy the Phoenician settlements in the
west of the island. Carthage took the lead in defending the threatened
communities and in strengthening the Phoenician position in southern Sardinia.
This is attested by archaeology finds at Monte Sirai in particular. A further
advance in Carthaginian influence came about in 535 BC when allianced with some
Etruscan cities, she won a naval victory over Greeks from Phocaea off Corsica
that was so decisive that the Greeks were then effectively cut off from trading
with those parts of southern Spain in which the Phoenicians were interested. And
in 514 BC, Carthage prevented an attempt led by Dorieus, a Spartan, to found a
settlement at the mouth of the Cinyps river in Libya not far from the existing
settlements at Sabratha and Lepcis.
What about long term influence of the Carthaginian civilization? The main
influence was the introduction of many peoples of the western Mediterranean,
particularly those of North Africa, to the more advanced civilization of the
eastern Mediterranean. Substantial changes occurred in the economy and social
structure of the Libyan tribes under her influence. The agricultural resources
of northern Tunisia were first exploited by the Carthaginians and this was the
foundation of the famous prosperity of the area in the Roman period. Masinissa
and other chieftains, in the period of Carthaginian decline and immediately
afterwards, encouraged the tendency towards the adoption of a settled
agricultural economy by their subjects. The religion of the indigenous peoples
was influenced by the Carthaginians, and the Neo-Punic language, a late form of
Phoenician, spread widely, especially when many Carthaginians fled from the
Romans to Numidian areas. Above all, town life on the Phoenician model began to
spread among the Libyans, often under the patronage of chieftains. It was on
this basis that the rapid development of urbanization followed under the Romans:
over 30 North African towns still used the term sufetes for their chief
magistrate well into the Roman period. Carthaginian influence on the development
of Sardinia and southern Spain, is also becoming much better understood as a
result of new archaeological evidence.
Carthage's Wealth
Carthage is a prime example in the ancient world of a city whose wealth was
based on trade. The empire existed to defend and was economically dependent on
her trade. Most of this appears to have been primary products and in perishables
and is difficult to trace archaeologically. The most famous and the most
profitable was, of course, in metals, such as the silver and tin from southern
Spain and even probably gold from Africa from the region south of the Rio de Oro.
Ancient sources tell of two voyages of exploration and trace in the fifth
century BC. One was led by Himilco and sailed up the western coast of Spain and
France. There is no evidence that Himilco or any other Phoenicians ever traded
in Britain itself, but its not unrealistic to believe that tin from that island
reached Carthage by intermediaries along the Atlantic route which had been in
existence since prehistoric times. The other voyage, led by Hanno, went south
along the Atlantic coast of Morocco at least as far as Cape Verde, apparently in
search of gold.
Trade with the Greeks also occurred in the Aegean and in Sicily. Archaeological
evidence of substantial imports of the Greek world comes from Carthage herself
and from a number of settlements within her empire.
What is surprising to learn is that Carthage did not issue her own coins until
the 4th century BC, long after coinage had become established as a medium of
exchange in the Greek world. The wealth of Carthage derived from her trade and
the exploitation of non-Phoenician subjects was sufficient for her to be able to
raise numerous large armies of mercenaries when the time arose.
Carthaginian Religion
Carthaginian religion did long retain a number of primitive features, such as
the practice of infant sacrifice which continued in Carthage long after it had
died out in the rest of Phoenicia. The polytheistic system was headed by the
male deity, Baal Hammon (who the Romans identified with Saturn). He had similar
functions as the baal of cities in Phoenicia and associated cultures in the
east. Other deities of Phoenician origin attested at Carthage were Melkart and
Eshmoun. As contact with the indigenous people grew, the cult of Tanit,
apparently of Libyan origin, grew. It appears that she took over the fertility
rites of the Phoenician Astarte.
The sacrifice of infants to Baal Hammon continued with fluctuations until the
last period of Carthage. However, it was never the norm and appears to have only
occurred during periods of great crisis. The burned bones of infants were buried
in urns, the sites frequently marked by inscribed stelae. Sanctuaries can be
found at Carthage and elsewhere in her empire in North Africa, Sicily and
Sardinia.