Tunisia Way

Ancient state of North Africa, and at times including European territory in the southwestern part of the Mediterranean basin, lasting from about the 9th century BCE to 146 BCE. From the 8th century until the 3rd century BCE, Carthage was the dominant power in the western half of the Mediterranean.
The state took its name from the city of Carthage, lying on the coast, 10 km from today's Tunis, Tunisia. Carthage had been founded in the 9th century by Phoenician traders of Tyre.

Carthage had two first class harbours, and therefore an advantage with respect to the most effective means of transportation at that time, the sea. The Carthaginians soon developed high skills in the building of ships and used this to dominate the seas for centuries. The most important merchandise was silver, lead, ivory and gold, beds and bedding, simple, cheap pottery, jewellery, glassware, wild animals from Africa, fruit and nuts.

Carthage fought the Greeks and the Romans for control over territories. Campaigns against the Greeks lasted for a period of more than 200 years, resulting in success for Carthage.
The wars against Rome are called the Punic Wars, and involve three periods of wartime, between 264 and 146 BCE. Every one of these three ended in defeat for the Carthaginians, but following the first two, Carthage soon returned to its former glory and importance. In the third war, vindictive Romans destroyed Carthage as an independent power.
Carthaginians religion had Baal and Tanit as central gods, but there were also elements from Greek religion, specifically, the goddesses, Demeter and Persephone. Carthaginian religious ritual invovled human sacrifice.

Topography

Carthage was built on a promontory with inlets to the sea to the north and south. The city's location made it master of the Mediterranean's maritime trade. All ships crossing the sea had to pass between Sicily and the coast of Tunisia, where Carthage was built, affording it great power and influence.

Two large, artificial harbors were built within the city, one for harboring the city's massive navy of 220 warships and the other for mercantile trade. A walled tower overlooked both harbors.