'Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam' (Furthermore, I consider that Carthage must be destroyed) was how Cato the Censor used to conclude all his speeches in the Roman Senate. The Romans had a vivid image of the Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca crossing the Alps with more than thirty elephants to attack Rome – a deed that still mesmerises the European imagination. But who were the Carthaginians, and before them, the Phoenicians? What is real about Carthage and what is not?
The objectives of this course are to explore facts and myths about the Phoenician and Carthaginian world by examining historical, linguistic, and archaeological evidence. We will first explore the Phoenician diaspora in the Mediterranean to contextualise the foundation of Carthage. We will then review the archaeological evidence that we have to study the ancient city of Carthage and its expansion, and we will delve into everyday life activities in Carthage and abroad. We will also analyse death and rituals among the Phoenicians and Carthaginians, including the tophets or Carthaginian infanticide (it was not just Roman propaganda!). We will finish the course by examining the renowned Punic Wars against Rome, the Roman representations of Carthage and their long-lasting influence in European arts and beyond.
Learning outcomes
- Display a broad understanding of the political, economic, social, and cultural background of the Phoenicians and Carthaginians in the ancient Mediterranean, as well as their relationships with other communities;
- Understand the diversity of archaeological and historical sources and learn how to critically evaluate them;
- Ability to gather and synthesise information from diverse sources and to apply it to the study of the Mediterranean past.
