Carthage: A Biography

by Dexter Hoyos

Carthage tells the life story of the city, both as one of the Mediterranean’s great seafaring powers before 146 BC, and after its refounding in the first century BC. It provides a comprehensive history of the city and its unique culture, and offers students an insight into Rome’s greatest enemy. Hoyos explores the history of Carthage from its foundation, traditionally claimed to have been by political exiles from Phoenicia in 813 BC, through to its final desertion in AD 698 at the hands of fresh eastern arrivals, the Arabs. In these 1500 years, Carthage had two distinct lives, separated by a hundred-year silence. In the first and most famous life, the city traded and warred on equal terms with Greeks and then with Rome, which ultimately led to Rome utterly destroying the city after the Third Punic War. A second Carthage, Roman in form, was founded by Julius Caesar in 44 BC and flourished, both as a centre for Christianity and as capital of the Vandal kingdom, until the seventh-century expansion of the Umayyad Caliphate. Carthage is a comprehensive study of this fascinating city across 15 centuries that provides a fascinating insight into Punic history and culture for students and scholars of Carthaginian, Roman, and Late Antique history. Written in an accessible style, this volume is also suitable for the general reader.

Genres: History, Ancient History

190 pages, Hardcover

First published December 30, 2020

About the author

Dexter Hoyos is retired Associate Professor of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Sydney, Australia. His many books include, most recently, Hannibal: Rome's Greatest Enemy, The Carthaginians, A Companion to the Punic Wars, Livy: Rome's Italian Wars (with J. C. Yardley), and A Companion to Roman Imperialism.

Reviews

[Rob Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are shelves of books on Rome, but not much on Carthage. I’ve always wondered at her history, and why Rome hated Carthage so much. This volume does not answer all of those questions, though it does pose and discuss Rome’s hated but draws no conclusion. It follows the history of this city from its founding to its final destruction by the invading Islamic armies. In fact, I had not realized the rich history of the city after Rome’s victory in the Third Punic War. If you are a student of history, I recommend this book. Since the sources are few, it is a survey, and cannot go into the depth that many would like, yet if fills in a gap in our understanding of the Mediterranean civilizations.

[Alex Frame · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction to this forgot Mediterranean ancient city near modern Tunis that once rivalled Rome and Athens.
For 1,500 years after its founding it rose and fell, was invaded and sacked, invaded and sacked others before finally succumbing to Islam and losing its importance. Also once had a thriving economy and places of learning that exported grains and pottery to Europe then became a hub of early Orthodox Christianity.

It is only an outline so for the scholars this only touches on certain periods and may not be of interest.

[Niniane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got what I wanted: I wanted to know more about Carthage and this was a solid introduction. I liked the fact that it covered a vast timespan. It's so frustrating to see that we know so little about the status of women in this ancient civilization.

It's an introduction, so don't expect it to examine anything in depth. The style is also pretty dry, it reads like a textbook.

[Sami Zhioua · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boring at some parts. Didn't cover well the first centuries of Carthage history !