Carthage

ancient cities · trade · Mediterranean · North Africa

Founded by a Queen. According to legend, Carthage was founded by Queen Dido around 814 BCE on the coast of what is now Tunisia. The city grew from this legendary start to become one of the most important places in the ancient world.

Trading Superpower. Carthage became the center of a vast trading network across the Mediterranean Sea, exchanging goods with cities and civilizations all around. Ships from Carthage carried valuable items like purple dye, metals, and grain to ports near and far.

Incredibly Wealthy. Carthage was so rich and successful that it became one of the most affluent cities in the classical world. Its traders and merchants grew wealthy by buying and selling goods across the entire Mediterranean region.

African Powerhouse. Located on the eastern shore of the Lake of Tunis in North Africa, Carthage was the capital of the Carthaginian civilization and later came under Roman control. This ancient city shaped the history of North Africa and the Mediterranean for hundreds of years.