Carthage. Chronicles of the Legendary City-State from Its Foundation to Its Destruction

Carthage is the most mysterious and least studied state of the ancient world. French historians J.-S. Picard and K. Picard reconstruct the seven-century history of the legendary city-state, founded by the Phoenicians on African soil, relying on Greek and Roman sources as well as scientific data obtained during their archaeological expeditions. The authors describe the culture, religion, political structure, trade relations, and Carthage's interactions with other countries, telling how over the centuries a small Phoenician colony grew rich and expanded, capturing more and more territories until it became a formidable rival to Rome. In the final chapters, the historians illuminate the military campaigns of Hannibal, one of the greatest commanders of antiquity, and conclude their book with a description of the defeat and destruction of Carthage.