built
Carthagena in 227 and concluded with Rome a treaty by which the Ebro was
adopted as the boundary of the Carthaginian sphere. On his death the
soldiers chose for themselves as leader Hannibal, son of Hamilcar. At
this period Carthage, with a population of perhaps 1,000,000, was in the
enjoyment of extraordinary prosperity alike in its internal industries
and in its foreign trade. The manufacture of woven goods, especially,
was a flourishing industry; the Greek writer Polemo records a special
treaty dealing with Carthaginian fabrics which were a recognized luxury
throughout the ancient world. In Sicily, Italy and Greece the
Carthaginians sold especially black slaves, ivory, metals, precious
stones and all the products of Central Africa, which came thence by
caravan. In Spain they sought copper and silver, and it was by them that
the modern mines of Huelva, as also those of Osca and Carthagena, were
first exploited. The district round Carthage, with its amazing
fertility, was the granary of the city, as it was later that of Rome.
Mago had drawn up a treaty dealing with agriculture and' rural economy
generally, which was subsequently brought to Rome and translated into
Latin by Decimus Silanus by order of the senate (J.P. Mahaffy, "The Work
of Mago," in _Hermathena_, xv. pp. 29-35).

In the midst of this prosperity the Second War with Rome broke out. At
this time the genius of Carthage is incarnate in Hannibal; his campaigns
in Spain, Italy and Africa have won the admiration of military experts
of all periods. The war became inevitable in 210 when Hannibal captured
Saguntum, which was in alliance with Rome. Passing through Spain and
Gaul, Hannibal resolved to carry the war into the heart of Italy
(218-217). The battles of the Ticinus, Trebia and Trasimene Lake are but
stages in the wonderful progress which culminated in the battle of
Cannae (August 2, 216). The road to Rome was now open to him, but he did
not profit by his advantage, while the Carthaginian senate, to its
shame, withheld all further support. His brother Hasdrubal with his
relieving army was defeated at the Metaurus in 207; the Romans recovered
their hold in Spain, and, seeing that Hannibal was unable to move in
Italy, carried the war back to Africa. Hearing that Scipio had taken
Utica (203) and defeated Hasdrubal and Syphax, king of Numidia, Hannibal
returned from Italy, but with a hastily levied army was defeated at Zama
(October 19, 202). The subsequ