the kingdoms of
Murcia and Valentia, Catalonia, Arragon, Navarre, Biscay, the Asturias,
Gallicia, the kingdom of Leon, and the greatest part of the two Castiles.
Tarraco,(593) a very considerable city, gave its name to this part of
Spain. Pretty near it lay Barcino.(594) Its name gives rise to the
conjecture, that it was built by Hamilcar, surnamed Barca, father of the
great Hannibal. The most renowned nations of Tarraconensis were the
Celtiberi, beyond the river Iberus;(595) the Cantabri, where Biscay now
lies; the Carpetani, whose capital was Toledo; the Oretani, &c.

Spain, abounding with mines of gold and silver, and peopled with a martial
race of men, had sufficient to excite both the avarice and ambition of the
Carthaginians, who were more of a mercantile than of a warlike
disposition, from the very genius and constitution of their republic. They
doubtless knew that their Phoenician ancestors, (as Diodorus relates,)(596)
taking advantage of the happy ignorance of the Spaniards, with regard to
the immense riches which were hid in the bowels of their lands, first took
from them these precious treasures, in exchange for commodities of little
value. They likewise foresaw, that if they could once subdue this country,
it would furnish them abundantly with well-disciplined troops for the
conquest of other nations, as actually happened.

The occasion of the Carthaginians first landing in Spain, was to assist
the inhabitants of Cadiz, who were invaded by the Spaniards.(597) That
city was a colony from Tyre, as well as Utica and Carthage, and even more
ancient than either of them. The Tyrians having built it, established
there the worship of Hercules, and erected, in his honour, a magnificent
temple, which became famous in after ages. The success of this first
expedition of the Carthaginians made them desirous of carrying their arms
into Spain.

It is not exactly known in what period they entered Spain, nor how far
they extended their first conquests. It is probable that these were slow
in the beginning, as the Carthaginians had to do with very warlike
nations, who defended themselves with great resolution and courage. Nor
could they ever have accomplished their design, as Strabo observes,(598)
had the Spaniards (united in a body) formed but one state, and mutually
assisted one another. But as every district, every people, were entirely
detached from their neighbours, and had not the least correspondence nor
connection w