ND
POWER.--Commerce, strictly speaking, was the occupation of Carthage, the
particular object of its industry, and its peculiar and predominant
characteristic. It formed the greatest strength and the chief support of
that commonwealth. In a word, we may affirm that the power, the conquests,
the credit, and glory of the Carthaginians, all flowed from their
commerce. Situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, and stretching out
their arms eastward and westward, the extent of their commerce took in all
the known world, and wafted it to the coast of Spain, of Mauritania, of
Gaul, and beyond the straits and pillars of Hercules. They sailed to all
countries, in order to buy at a cheap rate the superfluities of every
nation; which, by the wants of others, became necessaries; and these they
sold to them at the dearest rates. From Egypt the Carthaginians fetched
fine flax, paper, corn, sails and cables for ships; from the coast of the
Red-Sea, spices, frankincense, perfumes, gold, pearls, and precious
stones; from Tyre and Phoenicia, purple and scarlet, rich stuffs,
tapestry, costly furniture, and divers curious and exquisite works of art:
in a word, they fetched, from various countries, all things that can
supply the necessities, or are capable of contributing to the convenience,
the luxury, and the delights of life. They brought back from the western
parts of the world, in return for the articles carried thither, iron, tin,
lead, and copper: by the sale of these various commodities, they enriched
themselves at the expense of all nations; and put them under a kind of
contribution, which was so much the surer as it was spontaneous.

In thus becoming the factors and agents of all nations, they had made
themselves lords of the sea; the band which held the east, the west, and
south together; and the necessary channel of their communication: so that
Carthage rose to be the common city, and the centre of the trade, of all
those nations which the sea separated from one another.

The most considerable personages of the city were not ashamed of engaging
in trade. They applied themselves to it as industriously as the meanest
citizens; and their great wealth did not make them less in love with the
diligence, patience, and labour, which are necessary to augment it. To
this they owed their empire of the sea, the splendour of their republic;
their being able to dispute for the superiority with Rome itself; and
their exalted pitch of power,