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Carthage: A Lost Empire

It was one of the great cities of the ancient world, the centre of a prosperous trading empire that dominated the Mediterranean. Carthage’s most famous son, Hannibal Barca, marched an army of men and elephants across the Alps before inflicting a series of devastating defeats on the Roman army.

Yet the price of these triumphs was the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC. Today virtually nothing remains of the metropolis of magnificent temples and glittering palaces that once lay on the coast of north Africa.

Now with a combination of history and archaeology, we can begin to understand what Carthage stood for and what has been lost. In this website, you can follow the chronology of Carthage and the Punic Wars, find out about Carthage life and discover why Carthage failed, how it has been remembered and what remains. You can also take your interest further via our guide to resources.

Did the Carthaginians really sacrifice children?
Debate this and other contentious subjects on the History Talk forum.

Carthage: The Roman holocaust
First transmitted on Saturday, 8 May 2004
Historian and archaeologist Dr Richard Miles visits the key sights, from Rome to the ruins of Carthage, and uncovers the real importance of this largely forgotten civilisation.

Hannibal: The man who hated Rome
First transmitted on Saturday, 15 May 2004
The story of the greatest military leader that Carthage ever had, who nearly brought Rome to its knees.

History written by the victors?
Most of what we know about Carthage comes from the Romans who defeated it. You can learn more about them at the AD 1 microsite and the Time Traveller's Guide to the Roman Empire.

Home

Chronology

Carthage life

Why Carthage failed

Remembering Carthage

What remains?

Find out more

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