Fall of Civilizations Podcast 17. Carthage - Empire Of The Phoenicians
From Phoenician seafarers and Atlantic voyages to a wealthy republic at the heart of the Mediterranean, Carthage rose as Rome’s greatest rival. Follow its struggles in Sicily, Hannibal’s breathtaking march across the Alps, and the devastating wars that culminated in the city’s three-year siege, destruction, and near-erasure from history.
03:38:12
Rome Won Wars Through Relentless Manpower
- Rome’s citizen army could replace catastrophic losses because conquered free men received citizenship.
- Pyrrhus won battles but recognized that Rome’s manpower made another victory potentially ruinous.
Rome Defeated Carthage With Boarding Bridges
- Rome copied a grounded Carthaginian galley and rapidly built a rival fleet.
- The corvus boarding bridge neutralized Carthage’s superior seamanship by turning naval combat into infantry fighting.
War Reparations Triggered Carthage’s Civil War
- Rome’s reparations drained Carthage’s treasury and left it unable to pay its foreign troops.
- The resulting Mercenary War combined mutiny, provincial resentment, famine, and civil conflict, nearly destroying the empire.
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Intro
00:00 • 8min
The Phoenician Maritime World
07:50 • 10min
Assyrian Pressure Drives Phoenician Expansion
17:29 • 9min
Carthage’s Founding and Phoenician Identity
26:40 • 10min
Carthage’s Ideal Geographic Position
36:25 • 5min
A Wealthy Oligarchic Republic
41:24 • 4min
Carthage Becomes the Phoenician Capital
45:00 • 2min
Voyages Beyond the Mediterranean
47:02 • 9min
The Great City and Its Harbors
56:05 • 15min
Diplomacy, Armies, and Imperial Strategy
01:10:35 • 7min
Sicily Becomes a Mediterranean Battleground
01:17:15 • 8min
Agathocles Brings War to Carthage
01:25:41 • 7min
Child Sacrifice and Religious Desperation
01:33:10 • 12min
Rome’s Rise and Pyrrhus’ Intervention
01:44:42 • 13min
The First Punic War Begins
01:57:12 • 11min
Rome Learns Naval Warfare
02:07:50 • 12min
Defeat, Reparations, and Mercenary Revolt
02:19:51 • 7min
Hannibal Rebuilds Carthaginian Power
02:27:09 • 7min
Saguntum Ignites the Second Punic War
02:33:40 • 6min
Hannibal Crosses the Alps
02:39:16 • 13min
Hannibal’s Italian Victories
02:51:54 • 8min
Scipio Turns the War Toward Africa
02:59:43 • 2min
Zama and Carthage’s Subjugation
03:01:39 • 5min
A Prosperous City Under Roman Control
03:06:45 • 4min
Cato Demands Carthage’s Destruction
03:10:43 • 3min
The Third Punic War Begins
03:13:56 • 5min
The Three-Year Siege of Carthage
03:18:46 • 2min
The Destruction and Erasure of Carthage
03:21:15 • 4min
The Mutability of Imperial Fortune
03:25:10 • 11min
Outro
03:35:42 • 2min
#137081
The Periplus of Hanno the Navigator
A Voyage of Discovery Down the West African Coast by a Carthaginian Admiral of the Fifth Century B.C.
Wilfred H. Schott
Hanno the Navigator
The Periplus of Hanno the Navigator is a brief ancient navigational and exploration text attributed to the Carthaginian commander Hanno.
It recounts a voyage along the Atlantic coast of Africa, including the founding of colonies, encounters with unfamiliar peoples and animals, and observations of coastal landmarks.
The surviving version is a Greek translation preserved in a medieval manuscript, making it one of the earliest extant accounts of African exploration.
#109821
The Second Book of Kings
Anonymous (traditionally attributed to Jeremiah)
The Second Book of Kings continues the history of ancient Israel and Judah from the death of King David to the release of Jehoiachin from Babylonian captivity, covering roughly 400 years.
It highlights the moral decline of the kings, the role of prophets like Elijah and Elisha, and God's judgment on the kingdoms.
Though the author is anonymous, tradition holds that Jeremiah wrote it, with some scholars suggesting multiple editions or editors.
The book serves as a theological reflection on Israel's exile and the hope for a future Davidic king.
#3354
• Mentioned in 19 episodes
Book of Ezekiel
Ezekiel
Carol Pentleton
The Book of Ezekiel records the prophetic visions and messages of Ezekiel, who lived among the exiled Judeans in Babylon from approximately 593 to 571 BC. The book includes vivid, symbolic language and describes Ezekiel's commission as a prophet, his visions of God's throne chariot, the state of the temple in Jerusalem, and the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the surrounding nations.
It also contains parables and allegories that depict Israel's rebellion and idolatry, as well as God's judgment and justice.
#5
• Mentioned in 856 episodes
The Odyssey
Homer
The Odyssey, attributed to Homer, is an ancient Greek epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. The poem explores Odysseus's encounters with various mythical creatures, divine interventions, and natural challenges.
Upon his return to Ithaca, he must confront the suitors who have been vying for his wife Penelope's hand in marriage.
With the help of his son Telemachus and the goddess Athena, Odysseus devises a plan to defeat the suitors and reclaim his throne.
The poem is a reflection on human nature, loyalty, and the consequences of one's actions, and it remains a crucial component of ancient Greek literature and Western cultural heritage.
#33
• Mentioned in 404 episodes
The Iliad
Homer
The Iliad is an epic poem attributed to Homer, set during the Trojan War. It begins in the ninth year of the war, where a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles sets off a chain of events.
The poem explores themes of heroism, honor, and fate as it describes the battles and interactions between Greek warriors like Achilles, Diomedes, and Odysseus, and Trojan warriors like Hector and Paris.
The story is interspersed with divine interventions from Greek gods and goddesses, influencing the outcome of the war.
The poem culminates with Achilles' reconciliation with Agamemnon and his subsequent rage against the Trojans, leading to the death of Hector and the eventual funeral rites for Patroclus and Hector.
#539
• Mentioned in 79 episodes
Madame Bovary
Gustave Flaubert
Published in 1857, 'Madame Bovary' is a seminal work of literary realism that tells the story of Emma Bovary, a beautiful and intelligent young woman who marries Charles Bovary, a dull and unambitious doctor.
Emma's life is marked by boredom, romantic fantasies, and a series of ill-fated love affairs with men like Rodolphe and Léon.
Her inability to distinguish between her romantic ideals and the harsh realities of her life leads to financial ruin, public scandal, and ultimately, her tragic demise.
The novel is renowned for its masterful writing, detailed psychological insights, and its critique of bourgeois provincial life.
#17124
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Salambo
Gustave Flaubert
Gustave Flaubert's "Salambo" is a historical novel set in ancient Carthage, focusing on the mercenary war and the city's religious practices.
The story revolves around Salambo, a priestess of Tanit, and her involvement in the conflict.
Flaubert vividly portrays the exoticism and violence of Carthaginian society, exploring themes of religious fanaticism, political intrigue, and social unrest.
The novel's detailed descriptions and sensual language immerse the reader in the world of ancient Carthage, offering a glimpse into its culture and customs.
Flaubert's work is considered a masterpiece of historical fiction, showcasing his mastery of language and his ability to create a compelling narrative.
Buried beneath the city streets of the Tunisian capital of Tunis, an ancient city lies forgotten...In this episode, we look at one of the most dramatic stories to come down to us from the ancient world: the rise and fall of the empire of Carthage. Find out how this city rose out of the Phoenician states of the Eastern Mediterranean, and set out on voyages of discovery and settlement that put them at the centre of the ancient world. And hear how the city of Carthage was destroyed, and its memory nearly wiped from the earth.SOURCES: https://www.patreon.com/posts/sources-for-17-81369494?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkCredits:Written and produced by Paul CooperSound engineering by Alexey SibikinVoice actors:Michael HajiantonisLachlan LucasAlexandra BoultonSimon JacksonTom Marshall-LeeChris Harvey,Nick DentonPaul Casselle