originally from PHOENICIA, on the eastern coast of the
Mediterranean. Their first ruler was Dido. The Latin student is of
course familiar with Virgil's story of Dido and Aeneas.)

While Rome was gradually enlarging her territory from Latium to the
Straits of Messana, 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.

The government of Carthage was an ARISTOCRACY. A council composed of a
few of high birth, and another composed of the very wealthy, managed the
state. Only in times of extraordinary danger were the people summoned
and consulted.

Rome had made two treaties with Carthage; one immediately after the
establishment of the Republic, in 500, the other about 340. By these
treaties commerce was allowed between Rome and its dependencies and
Carthage and her possessions in Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica. But the
Romans were not to trade in Spain, or sail beyond the Bay of Carthage.

In leaving Sicily, Pyrrhus had exclaimed, "What a fine battle-field for
Rome and Carthage!" If Carthage were mistress of this island, Rome would
be shut up in her peninsula; if Rome were in possession of it, "the
commerce of Carthage would be