The Carthaginians (Peoples of the Ancient World)

288 Pages·2010·3.05 MB·English

by  Dexter Hoyos

THE CARTHAGINIANS
The Carthaginians reveals the complex culture, society and achieve-
ments of a famous, yet misunderstood ancient people. Beginning as
Phoenician settlers in North Africa, the Carthaginians then broad-
ened their civilisation with infl uences from neighbouring North
African peoples, Egypt, and the Greek world. Their own cultural
infl uence in turn spread across the Western Mediterranean as they
imposed dominance over Sardinia, western Sicily, and fi nally
southern Spain.
As a stable republic Carthage earned respectful praise from Greek
observers, notably Aristotle, and from many Romans – even Cato,
otherwise notorious for insisting that ‘Carthage must be destroyed’.
Carthage matched the great city-state of Syracuse in power and
ambition, then clashed with Rome for mastery of the Mediterranean
West. For a time, led by her greatest general Hannibal, she did
become the leading power between the Atlantic and the Adriatic.
It was chiefl y after her destruction in 146 bc that Carthage came
to be depicted by Greeks and Romans as an alien civilisation, harsh,
gloomy and bloodstained. Demonising the victim eased the embar-
rassment of Rome’s aggression; Virgil in his Aeneid was one of the
few to offer a more sensitive vision. Exploring both written and
archaeological evidence, The Carthaginians reveals a complex,
multicultural and innovative people whose achievements left an
indelible impact on their Roman conquerors and on history.
Dexter Hoyos writes on Latin teaching and ancient history. His books
include Unplanned Wars (1998), Hannibal’s Dynasty (Routledge,
2003), Truceless War (2007), and Hannibal: Rome’s Greatest Enemy
(2008). He has retired after 36 years at Sydney University to continue
research work on Romans and Carthaginians.
PEOPLES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD
This series stands as the fi rst port of call for anyone who wants to know
more about the historically important peoples of the ancient world and the
early Middle Ages.
Reliable, up-to-date and with special attention paid to the peoples’ enduring
legacy and infl uence, Peoples of the Ancient World will ensure the continuing
prominence of these crucial fi gures in modern-day study and research.
THE ROMANS
An Introduction Second Edition
Antony Kamm
THE GREEKS
An Introduction to their Culture Second Edition
Robin Sowerby
THE PERSIANS
Maria Brosius
THE TROJANS AND THEIR NEIGHBOURS
Trevor Bryce
MYCENAEANS
Rodney Castleden
THE EGYPTIANS
An Introduction
Robert Morkot
THE BABYLONIANS
An Introduction
Gwendolyn Leick
THE ISRAELITES
An Introduction
Antony Kamm
THE
CARTHAGINIANS
Dexter Hoyos
First published 2010
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an
informa business
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2010.
To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s
collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.
© 2010 Dexter Hoyos
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic,
mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented,
including photocopying and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from
the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British
Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Hoyos, B. D. (B. Dexter), 1944-
The Carthaginians / Dexter Hoyos.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
1. Carthaginians. 2. Carthage (Extinct city)--Civilization.
3. Carthage (Extinct city)--History. I. Title.
DT269.C34H69 2010
939’.73--dc22
2009048666
ISBN 0-203-85132-3 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 10: 0-415-43644-3 (hbk)
ISBN 10: 0-415-43645-1 (pbk)
ISBN 10: 0-203-85132-3 (ebk)
ISBN 13: 978-0-415-43644-1 (hbk)
ISBN 13: 978-0-415-43645-8 (pbk)
ISBN 13: 978-0-203-85132-6 (ebk)
TO THE MEMORY
OF MY FATHER, BEN
(1913–2009)

CONTENTS
Acknowledgements xi
Keys to the Maps xiii
Illustrations xxi
Sources of Images xxiii
Chronological Table xxvi
Sources of knowledge xxxiii
I The Phoenicians in the West 1
The Phoenicians 1
Sidon and Tyre 2
Settlements in the West 3
II Carthage: Foundation and Growth 6
Tales of the foundation 6
Legends and truths 7
Carthage: site and potential 12
III State and Government 20
Citizens and aristocrats 20
Carthaginian names 23
Praise from Greeks 24
Chief magistrates: the sufetes 25
Adirim: the senate of Carthage 28
The mysterious ‘pentarchies’ 31
The generals 33
Nemesis of generals: the court of One Hundred
and Four 35
The assembly of citizens 36
vii
CONTENTS
IV The Carthaginian ‘sea empire’ 39
Carthage and North Africa 39
Carthage and the Etruscans 43
First treaty with Rome 44
Projection of power: Sardinia 45
Projection of power: Sicily 47
Carthage, Spain and the Atlantic 49
Hanno’s Periplus 51
Himilco’s voyage 54
An expansionist policy? 55
V Traders and landowners: Carthaginian society 59
Trade and traders 59
Land and landowning 62
Workers and labourers 67
Slaves 69
VI The Cityscape of Carthage 73
The growth of the city 73
Temples and other sacred buildings 76
Houses and shops 82
Public buildings 86
The land fortifi cations and the ports 88
VII Religion and cultural life 94
The gods and goddesses 94
The ‘tophet’ and child sacrifi ce 100
Literature at Carthage: did it exist? 105
Visual art, including coinage 108
VIII Carthage in Africa 124
Politics and rivalries: Mazeus-‘Malchus’ 124
The Magonid ascendancy 128
The end of the Magonids 132
The ascendancy of Hanno ‘the Great’ 134
Politics and war in the late 4th Century:
Bomilcar’s putsch 138
The Libyans and Numidians 142
viii
CONTENTS
IX Carthage at War: Sicily 149
The Carthaginian war machine: the navy 149
Carthage’s armies 153
Carthaginians and Greeks in the 5th Century 163
Carthage vs Dionysius I 166
Carthage and Timoleon 170
The age of Agathocles: Carthage at bay 172
Carthage and Pyrrhus 176
X The First War with Rome, and After 178
The second and third treaties with Rome 178
The outbreak of the war 181
Phases of war: 264 to 257 183
Africa invaded and saved: 256 to 255 185
Victories, defeats, stalemate: 254 to 242 186
Peace and revolt 189
XI The New Empire and Hannibal 193
The Sardinia crisis 193
The new empire in Spain 194
The coming of the Second Punic War 197
Hannibal invades Italy 199
Hannibal, master of southern Italy 201
Limitations and setbacks 202
Metaurus, Zama and peace 203
Hannibal’s war: an assessment 205
XII Revival and Destruction 207
Politics and reforms 207
Peace and plenty 208
Carthage and Numidia 211
Politics at home and war with Masinissa 213
The outbreak of the Third Punic War 214
The Third Punic War 216
XIII Carthage in History 220
ix