While Rome was gradually enlarging her territory from Latium to the
Straits of Messána, on the other shore of the Mediterranean, opposite
Italy and less than one hundred miles from Sicily, sprang up, through
industry and commerce, the Carthaginian power.

Like Rome, Carthage had an obscure beginning. As in the case of Rome,
it required centuries to gain her power.

It was the policy of Carthage to make a successful revolt of her
subdued allies an impossibility, by consuming all their energies in
the support of her immense population and the equipment of her
numerous fleets and armies. Hence all the surrounding tribes, once
wandering nomads, were forced to become tillers of the soil; and, with
colonies sent out by herself, they formed the so called Libyo-
Phoenician population, open to the attack of all, and incapable of
defence. Thus the country around Carthage was weak, and the moment a
foreign enemy landed in Africa the war was merely a siege of its chief
city.

The power of Carthage lay in her commerce. Through her hands passed
the gold and pearls of the Orient; the famous Tyrian purple; ivory,
slaves, and incense of Arabia; the silver of Spain; the bronze of
Cyprus; and the iron of Elba.

But the harsh and gloomy character of the people, their cruel
religion, which sanctioned human sacrifice, their disregard of the
rights of others, their well known treachery, all shut them off from
the higher civilization of Rome and Greece.