The Destruction of Carthage and the Turning Point of Rome

The Rise and Fall of Carthage

Carthage, a powerful city-state on the Mediterranean coast near modern Tunis, was Rome’s greatest rival in the ancient world. Founded by Phoenician settlers in the 9th century BCE, Carthage grew into a dominant maritime and commercial empire, controlling trade routes across the western Mediterranean. Its wealth and influence made it a formidable opponent for Rome, leading to a series of conflicts known as the Punic Wars (264–146 BCE).

The Third Punic War (149–146 BCE) culminated in the brutal siege and destruction of Carthage. After years of resistance, the Romans, led by Scipio Aemilianus, finally breached the city’s massive 20-mile defensive walls. The ensuing carnage was horrific—Roman soldiers fought through the streets, burning buildings and slaughtering inhabitants. The city was razed, its population enslaved, and its land symbolically cursed with salt to prevent future settlement.

The Sack of Corinth and Rome’s Mediterranean Dominance

Just months after Carthage’s fall, Rome turned its wrath on Corinth, Greece’s wealthiest city. Accused of defying Roman authority, Corinth was sacked in 146 BCE by Lucius Mummius. The city was looted, its art treasures shipped to Rome, and its people sold into slavery. The destruction of both Carthage and Corinth marked Rome’s undisputed supremacy over the Mediterranean.

Cultural and Political Consequences

The annihilation of Carthage and Corinth had profound cultural and political repercussions. Rome’s victory eliminated its last major rival, but it also shifted internal dynamics. The influx of wealth and slaves transformed Roman society, exacerbating economic inequality. Meanwhile, the absence of an external threat led to increasing political instability, as rival factions within Rome vied for power.

The historian Sallust later argued that Rome’s moral decline began with Carthage’s destruction. Without a common enemy, internal strife intensified, leading to the eventual collapse of the Republic and the rise of autocratic rule under figures like Julius Caesar.

Legacy and Modern Reflections

The destruction of Carthage remains a powerful symbol of imperial ruthlessness. Ancient historians debated whether Rome’s actions were justified or merely vengeful. Cato the Elder famously ended every speech with “Carthago delenda est” (“Carthage must be destroyed”), reflecting deep-seated Roman fears of resurgence.

Modern scholars see 146 BCE as a pivotal year—the moment Rome transitioned from a regional power to a Mediterranean empire. The events of this period foreshadowed the Republic’s eventual transformation into an autocratic state, raising enduring questions about the costs of imperial expansion and the fragility of republican governance.

The fall of Carthage and Corinth was not just the end of two great cities—it was the beginning of a new era in Roman history, one defined by both unparalleled dominance and internal decay.