The Rise and Fall of Carthage: Rome’s Greatest Rival | History for Sleep

Travel quietly across the ancient Mediterranean and discover the complete story of Carthage, from its beginnings as a Phoenician settlement on the coast of North Africa to its rise as one of the wealthiest maritime powers of the ancient world. This calm historical journey explores Carthage’s harbors, merchant ships, trading networks, government, agriculture, religion, and long rivalry with the Greek cities of Sicily. We then follow the Punic Wars, Hannibal’s crossing of the Alps, Rome’s struggle for survival, the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC, and the city’s later rebirth as a major center of Roman North Africa. The episode also examines the legend of Queen Dido, the controversy surrounding the Carthaginian tophet, and the famous but unsupported claim that Rome sowed salt over the ruins. Settle in, close your eyes, and allow the waters of the ancient Mediterranean to carry you through the rise, fall, and enduring legacy of Carthage. Subscribe for more calm, immersive journeys through the ancient world, and tell us in the comments the city or country from which you are listening. Sources and Further Reading: Richard Miles, Carthage Must Be Destroyed: The Rise and Fall of an Ancient Mediterranean Civilization. Allen Lane, 2010. Dexter Hoyos, The Carthaginians. Routledge, 2010. Serge Lancel, Carthage: A History. Blackwell, 1995. B. H. Warmington, Carthage. Robert Hale, 1969. Polybius, The Histories, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2010. Livy, Hannibal’s War: Books 21–30, translated by J. C. Yardley. Oxford University Press, 2006. Appian, Roman History, Volume I, translated by Horace White. Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1912. Henry Hurst, Excavations at Carthage: The British Mission, Volume II, Part 1: The Circular Harbour, North Side. Oxford University Press, 1994. Jeffrey H. Schwartz et al., “Skeletal Remains from Punic Carthage Do Not Support Systematic Sacrifice of Infants.” PLOS ONE, 2010. Paolo Xella et al., “Cemetery or Sacrifice? Infant Burials at the Carthage Tophet.” Antiquity, 2013. #Carthage #HistoryForSleep #AncientHistory #Hannibal #PunicWars #RomanHistory #Phoenicians